Decision details

To award a contract to Romaquip to supply 9 x 14-ton kerbside sort recycling vehicles including external vehicle wrap at a cost of £184,421.50 each plus VAT each. 

Total Expenditure - £1,659,793.50

Ubico, on behalf of Cheltenham Borough Council, deliver waste and recycling collections across the Borough.

The current fleet of recycling vehicles is now over 7 years old and due for replacement on the 2025/26 vehicle replacement plan (2 vehicles were replaced earlier as part of the 2024/25 replacement plan).  The replacement of these vehicles will support the kerbside sort recycling collection service in Cheltenham, reduce maintenance/hire costs for the existing old fleet and reduce operational risks/cost.  The greater capacity of the new vehicles which will be on a 14T chassis rather than the 12T chassis is also expected to deliver a fuel and CO2 reduction along with additional collection time.  It should be noted that the design of the new fleet has been modified to increase the amount of cardboard and plastics collected on the vehicle reducing the number of tips needed and freeing up more collection time to support current and future housing growth expected over the next year or so.  The modifications also accommodate the separate collection of flexible plastics and cartons to meet the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.  Several of the old fleet of vehicles will not be disposed of and will remain available as spare vehicles to cover servicing and MOTs.

This procurement is in line with the cabinet decision dated 30 November 2021 approving the move to alternative fuels or away from internal combustion engines for all our fleet and plant as quickly as practicable where alternatives are available and within available resources to support our climate change ambitions of net zero by 2030.

The vehicles that are being proposed to be purchased will have a Euro 6 Diesel Engines, which are the cleanest and greenest diesel engines, currently available in this market sector. The manufacturer of this vehicle also permits the use of HVO fuels, which is now being used by most of the current Council fleet. In addition, these vehicles will be fitted with eco-driving telematics to enable drivers to be taught more efficient driving techniques to further reduce carbon emissions and raise mpg.

Whilst there are electric Romaquip kerbside sort vehicles of this type available on the market to purchase, these are significantly more expensive when costed against conventional ICE models, and the depot would also need significant financial investment in additional infrastructure to support the power requirement to re-charge such vehicles.

Ubico have carried out a procurement exercise through the TPPL framework.  A further procurement exercise to replace the remaining two shorter wheel base vehicles in the fleet will be taking place as soon as possible.

Officers have considered whether the service could continue to be delivered without these vehicles and concluded that it could not given the authority’s commitment to kerbside sort recycling.  These ICE vehicles will be fuelled by HVO not diesel to reduce carbon emissions. Not replacing these vehicles at this point in time will not deliver the benefits set out above and will have a negative impact on the budget.

N/A

Internal consultation has taken place with relevant officers.  The Cabinet Member Waste, Recycling and Public Realm has been consulted.  Officers and the cabinet member agree there is a need to procure these vehicles to continue to deliver statutory services and minimise revenue costs.