Toggle menu

Councillors and committees

Agenda item

Contracts Update Report 2021/2022

Report attached

Minutes:

The JEC received a report advising them of the latest position regarding the Residual Waste Treatment Contract and other ancillary waste joint contracts and activities managed by the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership (STWWMP).

 

Section 2 of the report provided background information and an update on the procurement contracts across the partnership. The Joint Partnership team continues to undertake several waste management functions on behalf of the partner authorities, including reviewing and verifying monthly contract reports, which detail materials processed and service issues. Once approved, invoices are processed and, where appropriate, apportioned between partner authorities within contractual timescales.

 

This is enabling, amongst other things, a proactive and timely approach to management of the RWTC which is operated under strict timescales. Similar benefits are also afforded to the procurement and management of other ancillary contracts, such as MRF, HWRC and green waste composting.

 

Paragraphs 3.1 – 3.7 of the report provided the JEC with an update on the Veolia takeover, COVID-19, EfW Service Update and line 4 and 5 updates.

 

Paragraphs 3.8 – 3.11 of the report updated the JEC on turbine availability, joint insurance cost review (JICR) and Insurance Premiums for 2020/21 & 2021/22.

 

The JEC were reminded that the Campground WTS suffered a series fire within the transfer hall on 28 February 2021. Meldrum Engineering Civil and Structural Engineering Ltd have carried out the repair works. Fairhurst Engineering Consultants acted on behalf of SUEZ as project manager taking responsibility for Health and Safety under the Construction Design and Management Regulations. This included carrying out inspections and sign-off for the construction works at key stages of completion.

 

All works are now completed. SUEZ have received the sign off report from Fairhurst Engineering Consultants following their inspection of the works. The STWWMP have also received a copy and are making arrangements for internal expertise from Sunderland City Council to inspect the work before final sign off will be agreed.

 

The JEC were advised that Campground WTS remained fully operational and continued to accept all partner authority waste while the above works were taking place.

 

Both Middlefields and Jack Crawford House WTS also remained fully operational during this period.

 

Recycling outputs from all sites include segregated street sweepings, wood and scrap metals. Routine maintenance of buildings, plant and control systems have also been undertaken as scheduled, across all sites, during this period.

 

Paragraphs 3.17 – 3.20 updated the JEC on the work underway with communications colleagues to support the prevention of any further fires within STWWMP facilities and/or vehicles.

 

Paragraphs 3.21 – 3.28 updated the JEC on Targeted Recruitment and Training (TR&T), Community Education and Engagement and Community Liaison Groups across the partnership.

 

Table A at Appendix B provides the JEC with the latest 2021/22 performance for blue bin recycling (April – January). Analysis highlights that comingled recycling tonnages have fallen when compared to the same period last year during the first year of the pandemic but the tonnages are still generally slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

 

Separately collected paper tonnages continue to drop in each partner authority. Whilst newspaper consumption has declined rapidly in recent years, changing consumer habits as a result of the pandemic have likely further compounded the issue.

 

Appendix B also contains Table B, which highlights MRF recycling and recovery rates (for comingled materials only) since Quarter 1 2020/21 up to the latest quarter.

 

Table A and Appendix C highlights the latest HWRC recycling performance for 2021/22 (Quarters 1 to 3).

 

The JEC also received an update on the introductions of new advance booking systems across all three partner authorities.

 

The JEC received an update on the Garden Waste Composting Contracts, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment  (WEEE) Contract  and Kerbside WEEE.

 

RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

Help us improve this site by giving feedback