Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Leader welcomed Councillor Colin Sharples to his first meeting of the Cabinet as Cabinet Member (Customer and Digital)

The Leader also thanked Councillor James Flannery for his commitment and work whilst Cabinet Member (Planning, Business Support and Economic Development).

Apologies were received from Councillor Jacky Alty.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

There were no declaration of interest.

The minutes of the last meeting are attached to be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting are agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

The latest Notice of Executive Decisions can be found here: Forward plan - Notice of Executive Decisions - March 2024 - South Ribble Borough Council (moderngov.co.uk)

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Change and Delivery.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That Cabinet note the report.

That Cabinet accept the recommendations of the Corporate, Performance and Budget Scrutiny Committee.

Reasons for decision:

The Council’s performance framework sets out the process for reporting progress against the objectives of the Corporate Strategy. Robust monitoring ensures that the Council continues to deliver its priorities and achieves the best outcomes for residents.

Other options considered and rejected:

No other options were considered as we are required to report this information.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster presented a report that sought to provide a position statement for the Corporate Strategy for quarter three (October – December) 2023/24.

Councillor Foster explained that the quarter three performance continued to be strong and of the two issues highlighted he was confident both had been resolved. Leyland Town Deal was now on track and a report would be brought before a future cabinet meeting to detail the revised procurement strategy and programme delivery. Jubilee Gardens is also back on track.

Councillor Foster referred to the recommendations from the Corporate, Performance and Budget Scrutiny and clarified that there are no issues with council tax or business rate collection. Across Lancashire collection rates had reduced by approximately 0.6% due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That Cabinet note the report.

That Cabinet accept the recommendations from the Corporate, Performance and Budget Scrutiny Committee.

Reasons for decision:

The Council’s performance framework sets out the process for reporting progress against the objectives of the Corporate Strategy. Robust monitoring ensures that the Council continues to deliver its priorities and achieves the best outcomes for residents.

Other options considered and rejected:

No other options were considered as we are required to report this information.

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital.

Resolved: (Unanimously) 

That Cabinet agree to

·         Introduce statutory weekly food waste collections to all properties across South Ribble by 31 March 2026.

·         Proceed to procure non-vented food waste caddies and liners via public sector frameworks and further competition tender exercise.

·         Proceed to procure specialised food waste collection vehicles via public sector frameworks and further competition tender exercise.

·         Agree the tender evaluation criteria for food waste containers and collection vehicles, based on 80% cost and 20% quality ratio.

·         Delegate to the Cabinet Member (Finance, Assets and Public Protection) the authority to approve the award of contracts to the winning bidders.

·         Undertake an options modelling exercise to ensure the waste and recycling service is fully reviewed and achieves the councils environmental and fiscal priorities through improvements to collection rounds and frequencies.

·         Undertake public consultation exercise on options for waste collection service delivery.

·         Present a further report for approval of capital budgets for this project including a decision on the operating model and any improvements to existing service delivery.

Reasons for decision:

The Environment Act 2021 sets into legislation the requirement for waste collection authorities to provide weekly food waste collections to all households by 31 March 2026.

It is anticipated that large numbers of local authorities will implement or extend food waste collection services between 2024 and 2026. There will be a very high demand for new vehicles, containers and liners during this period and so an early decision on key service elements will confirm tender specifications and enable procurements via frameworks without delay.

Although a high value procurement usually requires a weighting of 15% for social value to be evaluated, it is proposed that this is exempted due to the nature of the assets to be procured.

Delegated approval for contract awards is requested to streamline the procurement process.

Other options considered and rejected:

To not introduce separate weekly food waste collections would be in breach of statutory duties imposed by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Neighbourhoods and Waste Service) Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, presented a report that sought approval for changes to support the introduction of new statutory food collections and to undertake public consultation on waste and recycling initiatives.

Councillor Bylinski Gelder advised the collections were a statutory requirement and by introducing the food waste collections it was hoped that the government target of 65% recycling would be achieved. Residents would be provided with both a kitchen caddy and a kerbside caddy for collections.

Members noted that the £861,000 provided by government would not be enough to cover ongoing costs of the collections, which would be undertaken on a weekly basis.

Resolved: (Unanimously) 

That Cabinet agree to

·         Introduce statutory weekly food waste collections to all properties across South Ribble by 31 March 2026.

·         Proceed to procure non-vented food waste caddies and liners via public sector frameworks and further competition tender exercise.

·         Proceed to procure specialised food waste collection vehicles via public sector frameworks and further competition tender exercise.

·         Agree the tender evaluation criteria for food waste containers and collection vehicles, based on 80% cost and 20% quality ratio.

·         Delegate to the Cabinet Member (Finance, Assets and Public Protection) the authority to approve the award of contracts to the winning bidders.

·         Undertake an options modelling exercise to ensure the waste and recycling service is fully reviewed and achieves the councils environmental and fiscal priorities through improvements to collection rounds and frequencies.

·         Undertake public consultation exercise on options for waste collection service delivery.

·         Present a further report for approval of capital budgets for this project including a decision on the operating model and any improvements to existing service delivery.

Reasons for decision:

The Environment Act 2021 sets into legislation the requirement for waste collection authorities to provide weekly food waste collections to all households by 31 March 2026.

It is anticipated that large numbers of local authorities will implement or extend food waste collection services between 2024 and 2026. There will be a very high demand for new vehicles, containers and liners during this period and so an early decision on key service elements will confirm tender specifications and enable procurements via frameworks without delay.

Although a high value procurement usually requires a weighting of 15% for social value to be evaluated, it is proposed that this is exempted due to the nature of the assets to be procured.

Delegated approval for contract awards is requested to streamline the procurement process.

Other options considered and rejected:

To not introduce separate weekly food waste collections would be in breach of statutory duties imposed by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.