Issue details

Ubico, on behalf of Cheltenham Borough Council operate a number of small panel vans to deliver services across the borough.

On this year’s capital replacement plan there is an internal combustion engine van, a Ford Transit Connect Panel Van VF55 VOK due for replacement, which is now 17 years old and beyond economical repair. This vehicle has been identified as being suitable to be replaced by an electric vehicle that is available on the market at this time.

This procurement is in line with the cabinet decision dated 30 November 2021 approving moving 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 resource to support our climate change ambitions of net zero by 2030.

Ubico have recently carried out a tender exercise via the TPPL framework for the procurement of this vehicle which will be funded from within existing budget for asset replacement approved by Council as part of the budget setting process for 2022/23 carried forward to 2023/24. The supplier could not fulfil the PO therefore this is a direct award from the TPPL framework to meet the procurement need. The cost of livery will be additional and funded from within the same budget. Unfortunately, the contract award to Motus Commercials cannot now be fulfilled following a dealership change but Nissan are still able to fulfil the order and this new contract award is with the new dealer Lookers.