Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

The Chief Executive provided the background for the recommendations to adopt the 2^nd Inter-Authority Agreement for the project, and the appointment of a Preferred Bidder, which were the subject of separate reports on the agenda.

If the Council failed to meet the levels of waste targets for local authorities in Wales, the Authority would face two sets of fines which would be cumulatively levied.

The Environment Overview and  Scrutiny Committee had received quarterly reports during the procurement process which provided updates on key issues and progress made.  Details of the work undertaken to ensure value for money was being provided was reported to Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 December 2013 and fell into the following three areas:

·        Capital costs

·        Revenue costs

·        Indexation

The North Wales Residual Waste Treatment Project (NWRWTP) Joint Committee met on 29 January 2013 and formally agreed to recommend to Partner authorities that Wheelabrator Technologies Incorporated (WTI) should be awarded Preferred Bidder status.

In late January 2013, the other remaining bidder, Sita UK Ltd, withdrew from the procurement process for commercial reasons.  The Joint Committee agreed a risk assessment and management approach to manage the implications of the withdrawal.

Following guidance from the Partnership’s legal advisors, Pinset Masons, the Joint Committee was assured that the Partnership was still in a good position to secure value for money based on the grounds detailed in the report.  Welsh Government (WG) confirmed its support for the NWRWTP procurement to continue with a single bidder.

WTI were proposing to use technology that was well established across Europe with a well-known contractor and they had taken account of the key planning issues.  The overall landfill diversion rate was high and would contribute significantly to WG targets for zero waste.

The Joint Committee had agreed to carry out air quality monitoring of fine particulates, known as ‘PM2.5’, more frequently that the statutory requirement, for as long a period as considered necessary.  This enhanced monitoring was aimed at giving reassurance to Members and the local community that the emissions from the treatment facility would be within established guidelines.

A Community Benefit Scheme had been approved by the Joint Committee.  It would provide £180k per annum for each of the 25 years of the contract.  The money could be used for community and educational projects under the themes of environment, climate and energy with the locally defined Deeside Partnership Area.  The money could be used either in part or in total to fund Prudential Borrowing for larger projects falling within those themes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted as the background to the specific reports on the agenda for this meeting on the Inter-Authority Agreement and the Appointment of the Preferred Bidder.

NB – The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment left the room during consideration of this item.