Decision details

To award a contract to Romaquip to supply 2 x 14-ton kerbside sort recycling vehicles including external vehicle wrap at a cost of £182,397.50 plus VAT each.

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

The fleet of recycling vehicles is due for replacement on the 2025/26 vehicle replace however due to their age and increased maintenance costs it has been decided to bring forward replacement of two of these vehicles into the 2024/25 vehicle replacement plan with an estimated delivery date of June 2024 and move back two refuse collection vehicles
instead.

The additional maintenance costs, over and above normal running costs for the two vehicles due for replacement are estimated to be at least £26,279 plus labour per vehicle assuming no other major component fails due to age and wear and tear. The replacement of these two vehicles will reduce maintenance/hire costs and reduce operational risks/cost. The great capacity of the two replacement vehicles is also expected to deliver a fuel and CO2 reduction along with additional collection time.

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 ESPO framework - ESPO
215_20 — Lot 1 Framework.

Officers have considered whether the service could continue to be delivered without these vehicles and concluded that it could not. 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 have a negative impact on the budget.