Decision details

The Business Managers for Commercialisation & Major Projects and Transport & Waste Services presented a report which provided a business case for bringing the garden waste service back to an in-house provision. The current collection arrangement was delivered in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council and Mansfield District Council and had been operating since 2014.  The garden waste service currently had 11,500 customers and operated a mixed delivery approach within the District.

In June 2018 the Leisure & Environment Committee resolved to transfer the administration for the garden waste scheme from Rushcliffe Borough Council to an in-house provision and that officers should develop a business case detailing the option of bringing the garden waste service back to an in-house provision. This subsequent business case considering the option of brining all garden waste services back to an in-house provision was attached as Appendix A to the report. It was noted that any transfer to an in-house provision would generate a surplus for the Council; improve the customer experience; establish some of the infrastructure required if a national mandated garden waste service for all households with gardens was legislated following government consultation as part of the National Waste Strategy; and give the Council greater autonomy over the service.

When considering the business case, the Committee sought clarification that leasing the additional required collection vehicles would not be more cost effective than purchasing outright a had been proposed.

The Leisure & Environment Committee considered the garden waste business case at their meeting held on 22 January 2019 and recommended approval of it being brought back in-house. 

AGREED (unanimously) that:

(a)        the preferred option as set out in the business case (bringing the garden waste service back in-house) be approved and added into the revenue budget in 2019/20 and built into the base budget for future budgets; and

(b)        the capital costs of £450,000 be added to the Capital Programme in 2019/20 for the purchase of the new collection vehicles and the additional bins all to be financed by borrowing, subject to the alternative of leasing the two collection vehicles not being cheaper than outright purchase.

Reason for Decision

To approve the preferred option for bringing the garden waste service back in-house.