Decision details

To award a contract to Hako Machines Ltd for the supply of 2 x 3.5T Compact Diesel Sweepers at a cost of £103,317.48 each plus attachments: Scrub Deck, Grass Cutters Flail & Rotary, Snow Plough, Pathway Brush, Weed Ripper Brushes (x2)

Total cost including all attachments £262,806.30 plus VAT.

Ubico, on behalf of Cheltenham Borough Council, deliver a street cleansing service across the borough.

Two of the 3.5T mechanical sweepers used to deliver this service are now approaching five years old and have become reliable needly costly repairs.  These vehicles are due for replacement in 2024/25.  To reduce more expensive manual activities these sweepers will also have access to additional attachments such as a Scrub Deck; Rotary Grass Cutters and Flail; snow plough, pathway brush and weed ripper.

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 Stage 5B 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.

Whilst there are electric vehicles of this type available on the market to purchase, these are significantly more expensive when costed against conventional ICE models.

Ubico have carried out a procurement exercise – TPPL.

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 operational benefits and have a negative impact on the budget.

This is not considered to be a key decision and is funded from within existing capital budget approved by Council as part of the budget setting process in line with part 3E, Article 13 of the Council’s Constitution.

The tender acceptance form is attached to the cabinet member decision form and is exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph(s) 3 part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Internal consultation has taken place with relevant officers.  The Cabinet Member Waste, Recycling and Street Services 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.