COUNCIL TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF ITS TIPS
Sites currently run by private contractor
TIPS across Staffordshire will be brought back under council management once the current outsourcing contract ends next year.
Cabinet members at Staffordshire County Council have backed proposals to bring the operation of all 14 of its household waste recycling centres (HWRC) back in-house.
The tips are currently managed by Amey, after previous operator FCC was allowed to leave its contract early last year.
With the outsourcing contract due to end next March, consultants were hired to investigate the options open to the council, including the appointment of a new contractor.
But council leaders believe it would now be more cost-effective for the authority to manage the HWRCS itself, due to changes in the market.
They say it will be ‘business as usual’ at the tips once responsibility for their day-to-day running returns to the council.
The HWRCS include the tips in Newcastle, Leek, Cheadle, Biddulph, Stone, Uttoxeter and Stafford.
Cabinet member
Mark Deaville said:
“There have been significant changes in private sector involvement in the household waste recycling market in recent years, with fewer companies wanting the work and those that do are quoting higher prices.
“If we had put the contract out to tender we do not believe that there would be enough competition in the market for the county council to negotiate a deal that was good financially and also provided the flexibility to respond to changing environmental, recycling and climate change agendas in the next decade.
“Therefore, we believe resuming the management and day-to-day running of our sites is the best option to ensure we maintain the best service for residents, be sustainable and provide value for money.”
The council commissioned an independent report by PWC UK after the issue was considered by a scrutiny committee last year.
Cabinet members approved the recommendation to bring the HWRC service back in-house during a closed meeting on Wednesday.
The decision was taken behind closed doors due to it involving the discussion of ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person’.
Mr Deaville added: “We have been watching closely what is happening in the industry as we are preoccupied by providing the best service for residents while maintaining value for money.
“Residents will notice no difference when the changeover happens in 2022, although we do have ambitious plans to improve facilities and encourage more sophisticated recycling methods.
“This option will allow us to respond to changing demand, a growing population and the council’s commitment to reduce the county’s carbon footprint to net zero by 2050.”
The tips currently deal with 66,000 tonnes of waste a year and receive 1.6 million visits by residents and 20,000 by traders.