Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

(i)         To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

(ii)        In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director - Corporate Resources, Kevin Foster, declares a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which he is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that Mr Foster may advise on those items.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor I Johnson declared an interest in minute item 6 – General Fund Budget 2025-26 arising from his wife’s employment by Citizens Advice Woking as Provincial House, where Citizens Advice Woking was based, was referred to in the savings proposals in Appendix 1 of the report.  Councillor Johnson would leave the Chamber if Provincial House was discussed during the debate.  The interest was such that Councillor Johnson left the Chamber during the determination of recommendation (i) which referred to the savings set out in Appendix 1.

In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director – Corporate Resources, Kevin Foster, declared a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which he was a Council-appointed director.  The interests were such that Mr Foster could advise the Executive on those items.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 16 January 2025 as published.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 16 January 2025 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

To consider any business that the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of Urgent Business under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To deal with any written questions submitted under Section 3 of the Executive Procedure Rules.  Copies of the questions and draft replies will be published shortly before the meeting.

The Leader reported that four questions had been submitted by members of public under Section 3 of the Executive Procedure Rules regarding the Peacocks Centre, retail lettings in Wolsey Place and Victoria Place, town centre sculptures, and Woking Gymnastics Club.  A copy of the questions together with the replies was before the Executive.  The Leader advised that the questioners had been unable to attend the meeting and would be sent a copy of the replies to their questions.  The questions, together with the replies from the Portfolio Holders, were presented as follows:

Question 1 from Mr David Sutton

“It is now some time since Arora Group purchased the Peacocks Centre. As the council is a key stakeholder in Woking Shopping are they disappointed in the lack of visible improvement and investment in the centre and paucity of (quality) lettings that will drive up footfall and dwell time which will benefit council finances through increased car parking revenue?”

Reply from Councillor Dale Roberts

“Thank you to Mr Sutton for the question and his obvious interest in an important subject for us, the economic wellbeing of our town centre.  The Council has had a number of meetings with the Arora Group acting in its capacity as the Freeholder and local statutory body over the past 12 months. As the questioner correctly notes the authority, as a key stakeholder in the town centre, has every interest in encouraging improvements and investment within the retail core. Whilst the Council has a residual property interest within the Peacocks Centre its ability to directly intervene is limited and the management of the centre, including future lettings, tenant mix and ongoing investment is really a matter for the long leaseholders, Arora. It was our expectation I think, at the time of the acquisition, that any private sector buyer would additionally bring the necessary creativity, innovation, and investment required to address the changing and somewhat challenging needs of a modern town centre. As recently as late last year at a meeting with Arora the senior Council leadership restated our willingness to assist with any initiatives that will improve the retail provision within the town centre that are within our proper gift and do not conflict with our statutory responsibilities given the Peacocks Centre is within private sector ownership.”

Question 2 from Mr David Sutton

“It is well known that the retail environment is struggling, there are however still many chains that are actively expanding such as Crew, Pro-Cook, Mango, Uniqlo, Sea Salt, Jo Malone. Does the council have faith in its letting agents managing Wolsey Place and Victoria Place given the very poor quality of recent retail lettings in Wolsey Place including downmarket shopfronts/signage/fit-out which risk a further downward spiral. Likewise the failure to find any comparative retail to grow in the area of Lark and Gail’s to improve the quality of the town centre retail experience?”

Reply from Councillor Dale Roberts

“Thank you again to Mr Sutton.  The authority has worked closely with both  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Reporting Person – Stephen Fitzgerald

The Executive RESOLVED

That  (i)    a detailed and more structured proposal on standardisation in local government be considered at the next Finance Working Group;

          (ii)  the budget-setting process be reviewed for next year, with changes to the timeline, and the inclusion of executive summaries in reports;

          (iii)  Officers be requested to provide further information to enable closer scrutiny of line items, year-to-year and in-year comparisons in the 2026/27 budget round;

          (iv) the addition of ‘local government reorganisation’ to be included in the implications section of reports; and

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the £2.5m of savings in 2025/26, rising to £4.7m by 2027/28 as set-out in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed, subject to any comments received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

          (ii)   the £2.4m of growth pressures in 2025/26, rising to £3.2m by 2027/28 as set-out in Appendix 2 to the report be agreed, subject to any comments received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

          (iii)  the Equality Impact Assessment on the savings proposals that are summarised in Appendix 6 to the report, with detailed reports on each resident facing saving proposal, be noted as part of the decision-making process;

          (iv)  the position of the Business Rates and Council Tax Collection Fund, including the brought forward surplus/deficit position and the Council Tax and Business Rates bases for 2025/26 as set out in Section 14 of the report be noted and agreed;

          (v)   the Management of Change and Flexible Use of Capital Receipts budgets proposed at Appendices 3 and 4 to the report be supported; and

          (vi)  it be noted that Full Council on 3 March 2025 will receive a final report from the Strategic Director of Finance to seek final, formal approval of the Council's budget, the Exceptional Financial Support and Council Tax for 2025/26.

Reason:   The contents of the report is to ensure open and transparent governance in the financial affairs of the Council in balancing the 2025/26 Budget, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Councillor Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Finance, introduced the report which recommended to Council the provisional budget proposals for 2025-26 and for the three-year period leading to 2027-28.  The Portfolio Holder highlighted that all discretionary services would be maintained, housing and homelessness had been made a clear priority, and Council Tax was proposed to increase by 2.99% on the previous year.

The Executive welcomed the focus on statutory services, principally housing, which was demonstrated in the Capital Programme and the inclusion of a Housing Asset Management Plan of £16m to address historic under-investment.  It was noted that the General Fund Budget proposed savings in relation to homelessness by working with ThamesWey Housing Limited (THL) to provide homes for homeless families and individuals in the Borough.  The Administration’s work to improve governance of Council-owned companies was highlighted.

The Portfolio Holder explained that a Business as Usual (BAU) budget of £23.6m was proposed with £2.4 million in growth and £2.5 million in savings projected for 2025-26.  The Executive was informed that, in terms of the Council’s legacy debt, a long-term solution still needed to be agreed with Government.  The Council had submitted a request to MHCLG for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) of £171.1m and a positive response from Government was critical to enable the Council to set a legal budget.  The budget would continue to be cognitive of, but not distracted by, local government reorganisation.

Following a question regarding the £2.8m budget gap in 2025/26 to be met through EFS, it was noted that the report set out a strategy to close the gap over the next three years.  The Executive heard that four strategic workstreams had been identified to seek savings through efficiencies over the next three years; property, hidden subsidy, procurement analysis and transformation.

A special meeting of the Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee, to which all Scrutiny Committee Members had been invited, had been held on 10 February 2025.  The Committee had considered the report under its remit for pre-decision scrutiny and a copy of the recommendations of the Committee were before the Executive.  The first recommendation requested that a letter be sent from Leadership to the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing & Local Government requesting greater standardisation across local authorities be included as part of local government reforms.  Before writing to the Secretary of State, the Executive would welcome a more detailed and structured proposal and the Portfolio Holder had asked for it to be added to the agenda of the next meeting of the Finance Working Group.  The second recommendation requested a review of the budget-setting process for next year, the inclusion of executive summaries in reports, and the addition of ‘local government reorganisation’ to the implications section in reports.  The Portfolio Holder responded that the timetable would be changed for next year.

The Executive also discussed the National Insurance Grant and CIL monies.  Portfolio Holder, Councillor Lyons, had asked Officers to assess and report on the cost implications of interest being added to the CIL account.  Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Reporting Person – Stephen Fitzgerald

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the proposed guiding principles in relation to setting fees and charges, set out in section 4 of the report, be approved; and

          (ii)   the discretionary fees and charges for 2025/26, as set out in Appendices 1-3 of the report, be approved.

Reason:   The review of discretionary charges ensures that the Council maintains its income base and generates additional resources for the provision of services.

The Executive received a report detailing the proposed discretionary fees and charges for 2025-26.  Councillor Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Finance, explained that the review of fees and charges had been shaped by the principles of transparency, fairness, equitability, affordability, and social responsibility with a particular focus on ensuring that discretionary services moved further towards cost neutrality.  It was noted that the review had included benchmarking with comparable local authorities, addressing historic under-pricing, and work to understand the true cost of services as part of the ‘hidden subsidy’ workstream of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

Attention was drawn to the car parking charges and in particular, the strategy to support longer stays in the town centre at a lower cost and a reduction in the night time parking fee.  The Portfolio Holder thanked the Car Parking team for the hard work undertaken on the principles and rationalisation of car parking charges.

The Executive noted that the Council was committed to becoming a smaller council with a focus on providing statutory services, with discretionary services needing to be fully funded.  Whilst mindful of the impact, it was therefore necessary to increase discretionary fees and charges in order to continue provision and ensure services were cost neutral.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the proposed guiding principles in relation to setting fees and charges, set out in section 4 of the report, be approved; and

          (ii)   the discretionary fees and charges for 2025/26, as set out in Appendices 1-3 of the report, be approved.

Reason:   The review of discretionary charges ensures that the Council maintains its income base and generates additional resources for the provision of services.

Reporting Persons – Stephen Fitzgerald and Louise Strongitharm

The Executive RESOLVED

That in their regular reviews of the HRA Long Term Business Plan, the Executive should pay particular attention to interest rates and review the Plan based on that information; and

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the Final Housing Revenue Account budgets for 2025-26, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed; and

          (ii)   with effect from 7 April 2025, rents be increased by 2.7%.

Reason:   To enable a decision to be made by Council on the Housing Revenue budget for 2025 and approval of the increase in rents from 7 April 2025.

The Executive received the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budgets 2025-26 for recommendation to Council.  It was explained that the HRA set out the financial framework for managing the Council’s housing stock of some 3,300 homes ensuring that rental income was used effectively to maintain and improve those homes.  Attention was drawn to the 30-Year HRA Business Plan, approved by Council in December 2024, noting that the HRA Budget was fully aligned with the Plan’s strategic objectives.

The Executive was confident in the direction being taken and welcomed that the HRA Budget was addressing historic under-investment in housing and the need for long-term sustainability.

The Communities and Housing Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 11 December 2024, had considered the 30-Year HRA Business Plan and had agreed to recommend that the Executive, in their regular reviews of the HRA Business Plan, should pay particular attention to interest rates and review the Plan based on that information.  The Executive agreed to take forward the recommendation from the Committee.

RESOLVED

That in their regular reviews of the HRA Long Term Business Plan, the Executive should pay particular attention to interest rates and review the Plan based on that information; and

RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the Final Housing Revenue Account budgets for 2025-26, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed; and

          (ii)   with effect from 7 April 2025, rents be increased by 2.7%.

Reason:   To enable a decision to be made by Council on the Housing Revenue budget for 2025 and approval of the increase in rents from 7 April 2025.

Reporting Person – Stephen Fitzgerald

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2028/29, as summarised in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report, be approved subject to reports on projects where appropriate; and

          (ii)   the proposed financing arrangements at Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

Reason:   To recommend to Council that it approves the capital programme and the proposed financing arrangements for 2024/25 onwards considered necessary to support the Council’s service plans and objectives.

The Executive received the Capital Programme 2024-25 to 2028-29 which set out the investments required to deliver the Council’s key strategies and objectives.  It was noted that the Programme focused on essential investments in infrastructure, housing projects and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Council assets.  The Executive was advised that the proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 was £30.5m, of which £23.5m would be on the Housing Capital Programme reflecting the strategic emphasis on providing decent homes.  General Fund projects included maintenance of green spaces, works to recreation grounds, and upgrading information technology for transformation.

Councillor Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Housing, highlighted that the Housing Capital Programme prioritised health & safety and fire safety remedial works and commented that he would like the Council to be able to buy properties in the future in order to replace homes sold through Right to Buy.

It was noted that the Capital Programme was restrained compared to previous years and investments undertaken needed to demonstrate delivery of cost savings and benefit residents, such as the residents services programme, or focus on housing.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2028/29, as summarised in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report, be approved subject to reports on projects where appropriate; and

          (ii)   the proposed financing arrangements at Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

Reason:   To recommend to Council that it approves the capital programme and the proposed financing arrangements for 2024/25 onwards considered necessary to support the Council’s service plans and objectives.

Reporting Person – Stephen Fitzgerald

The Executive RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Investment Strategy be reviewed by the Strategic Director of Finance to ensure that the Council is managing risk and achieving appropriate diversification, and a report be brought to a future Executive; and

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Budget Setting Council on 3 March 2025

That  (i)    subject to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)’s confirmation of Exceptional Financial Support for 2025/26, the Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy including the prudential indicators be approved; and

          (ii)   subject to MHCLG’s confirmation of Exceptional Financial Support for 2025/26, the Minimum Revenue Provision policy statement set out in Appendix A of the Treasury Management Strategy (at Annex III of the report) be approved.

Reason:   To enable the Executive to recommend to Council approval of the Council’s 2025/26 Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy and the Council’s 2025/26 Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, subject to MHCLG’s confirmation of Exceptional Financial Support for 2025/26.

The Executive received a report which set out the Council’s Capital, Investment and Treasury Management Strategies for 2025-26 and recommended to Council that the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Strategy be adopted.  Councillor Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Finance, stated that the approach of the Administration was to prioritise prudence and financial responsibility in contrast to the strategy of the previous Administration which had resulted in the Council having the highest debt per head of any authority in England.  It was confirmed that the Executive would continue to take a prudent low risk approach.  The Debt Reduction Plan was also highlighted.

The Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 10 February 2025 under its remit for pre-decision scrutiny.  A copy of the recommendation of the Committee was before the Executive which was that only rated institutions within the UK be considered for financial deposits and investments.  The Strategic Director of Finance would review the investment strategy and bring a report to the Executive in consultation with Scrutiny Members.  In addition, the Asset Management Strategy would be brought to the March Executive and would be scrutinised by the Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Investment Strategy be reviewed by the Strategic Director of Finance to ensure that the Council is managing risk and achieving appropriate diversification, and a report be brought to a future Executive; and

RECOMMENDED to Budget Setting Council on 3 March 2025

That  (i)    subject to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)’s confirmation of Exceptional Financial Support for 2025/26, the Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy including the prudential indicators be approved; and

          (ii)   subject to MHCLG’s confirmation of Exceptional Financial Support for 2025/26, the Minimum Revenue Provision policy statement set out in Appendix A of the Treasury Management Strategy (at Annex III of the report) be approved.

Reason:   To enable the Executive to recommend to Council approval of the Council’s 2025/26 Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy and the Council’s 2025/26 Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, subject to MHCLG’s confirmation of Exceptional Financial Support for 2025/26.

Reporting Person – Beverley Kuchar

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That (i)    the procurement and contract strategy for waste collection services be approved:

a.   To reprocure a joint contract with Mole Valley District Council, Elmbridge Borough Council and Surrey Heath Borough Council based on the current baseline service specification (outlined in 6.1 of the report) for waste collection with an initial term of seven years commencing on expiry of the current contract in 2027 and expiring in 2034, with two further options to extend up to a maximum of fourteen years.

b.   The contract management function will continue to be delegated by the four authorities to one client team.

          (ii)   authority be delegated to the Head of Environmental Services in consultation with the Strategic Director - Place, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Section 151 Officer and the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Waste as a member of the Joint Waste Collection Services to take all actions necessary to give effect to the decision in (i) including but not limited to;

a.   The final specification.

b.   The price/quality split and the detailed evaluation criteria and weightings.

Reason:   The Council has a statutory duty to arrange for the collection of household waste (Environmental Protection Act 1990). A strategic review of the options for succeeding the existing contract, concludes that reprocurement offers the best value at least risk.

Councillor Nicholson, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Recycling, introduced the report which sought approval to reprocure a joint contract for waste collection in partnership with Elmbridge Borough Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council.  The current contract would expire on 5 June 2027.  The Portfolio Holder commented that waste management was going through a transformation and highlighted new legislation and innovative technologies.  It was noted that the Government was introducing simpler recycling laws in 2025 with the aim to achieve a 65% recycling rate in municipal waste by 2035.

The Executive was advised that a specialist advisor had been commissioned by Joint Waste Solutions to evaluate the commissioning options for the service.  Following evaluation of the benefits, risks and modelled financial implications for each of the options, the recommendation was to reprocure.  Joint Waste Solutions had attended the Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 28 January 2025.  Members were informed that reprocuring posed the least financial and commercial risk to the Councils, as well as sharing the upfront costs of undertaking the procurement across four authorities.

Following a question regarding the potential impact of local government reorganisation, the Portfolio Holder advised that the tender specification would be based on the current range of services but would allow for variations to reflect new regulations and provide flexibility.

The Executive welcomed the plans for waste disposal and supported the recommendation to reprocure.  It was proposed and seconded to remove ‘street cleaning services’ from recommendation (i) as the Council had its own provider for street cleaning services.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That (i)    the procurement and contract strategy for waste collection services be approved:

a.   To reprocure a joint contract with Mole Valley District Council, Elmbridge Borough Council and Surrey Heath Borough Council based on the current baseline service specification (outlined in 6.1 of the report) for waste collection with an initial term of seven years commencing on expiry of the current contract in 2027 and expiring in 2034, with two further options to extend up to a maximum of fourteen years.

b.   The contract management function will continue to be delegated by the four authorities to one client team.

          (ii)   authority be delegated to the Head of Environmental Services in consultation with the Strategic Director - Place, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Section 151 Officer and the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Waste as a member of the Joint Waste Collection Services to take all actions necessary to give effect to the decision in (i) including but not limited to;

a.   The final specification.

b.   The price/quality split and the detailed evaluation criteria and weightings.

Reason:   The Council has a statutory duty to arrange for the collection of household waste (Environmental Protection Act 1990). A strategic review of the options for succeeding the existing contract, concludes that reprocurement offers the best value at least risk.

Reporting Person – Louise Strongitharm

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the Housing Resident Engagement Strategy be approved.

Reason:   The decision will ensure that there is a focus on Housing Resident Engagement, its importance, key areas of focus and the baseline of engagement opportunities that Woking Borough Council Housing Service commit to providing between 2025 and 2028.

The Executive received a report which recommended to Council adoption of the Housing Resident Engagement Strategy.  It was noted that residents had been involved in setting the Strategy which would be in place from 2025-28.  Councillor Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Housing, thanked the Resident Engagement Team for their work to engage with residents and drew attention to the engagement events held across the Borough during 2024.  The Resident Engagement Team and Chair and Vice-Chair of the Resident and Landlord Partnership Panel had attended the Community and Housing Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 21 January 2025.  It was highlighted that the Strategy would ensure regulatory compliance to the Regulator of Social Housing consumer standards.

The Executive welcomed the Housing Resident Engagement Strategy and encouraged all tenants to complete the Tenant Satisfaction Survey and submit their views.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the Housing Resident Engagement Strategy be approved.

Reason:   The decision will ensure that there is a focus on Housing Resident Engagement, its importance, key areas of focus and the baseline of engagement opportunities that Woking Borough Council Housing Service commit to providing between 2025 and 2028.

Please refer to your electronic copy of the Performance Management Report – Quarter 3, 2024/25.

The Executive RESOLVED

That the performance monitoring information contained in the Performance Management Report – Quarter 3, 2024-25, be received.

Reason:   To manage the performance of the Council.

The Executive considered the performance monitoring information contained in the Performance Management Report – Quarter 3, 2024/25.  Attention was drawn to sickness absence and the need to understand the reasons for long-term sickness.  Disappointment was expressed at the number of corporate complaints that had breached the 20 working day completion target and it was hoped that resources could be put in place in future to ensure complaints were dealt with in a timely fashion.

Achievements in Corporate Resources were highlighted including the publication of a new strategic asset register on the Council’s website, and asset disposals of over £40m to date.

Regarding Housing, it was commented that the Portfolio Holder for Housing was discussing with Officers how void turnover could be improved to  shorten the time taken to re-let properties by the housing service.

The Executive welcomed the increase in total visits to Council leisure facilities.

RESOLVED

That the performance monitoring information contained in the Performance Management Report – Quarter 3, 2024-25, be received.

Reason:   To manage the performance of the Council.

Reporting Person – Stephen Fitzgerald

The Executive RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Council’s Revenue and Capital forecasts for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account monitoring position be noted; and

          (ii)   it be noted that the Corporate Leadership Team will continue to identify mitigations to enable the net expenditure for 2024/25 to be contained within the budgets approved by Council on 8^th February 2024 and 4^th March 2024.

Reason:   Controlling the outturn within budget is essential to maintain financial control and to support the journey to financial sustainability.

The Executive received a report which set out the material financial issues identified since the 2024-25 budget was set, based on the income and expenditure as at end of December 2024.  A General Fund projected underspend of £0.460m was indicated for 2024-25, with risks to the forecast revenue outturn position identified from parking and investment income, and demand-led homelessness pressures.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Council’s Revenue and Capital forecasts for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account monitoring position be noted; and

          (ii)   it be noted that the Corporate Leadership Team will continue to identify mitigations to enable the net expenditure for 2024/25 to be contained within the budgets approved by Council on 8^th February 2024 and 4^th March 2024.

Reason:   Controlling the outturn within budget is essential to maintain financial control and to support the journey to financial sustainability.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 16 in view of the nature of the proceedings that, if members of the press and public were present during this item, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, to the Local Government Act 1972.

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information.

Reporting Person – Beverley Kuchar

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That (i)    the Strategic Options Appraisal, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.

Reason:   The Council has a statutory duty to arrange for the collection of household waste (Environmental Protection Act 1990). A strategic review of the options for succeeding the existing contract, concludes that reprocurement offers the best value at least risk.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That (i)    the Strategic Options Appraisal, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.

Reason:   The Council has a statutory duty to arrange for the collection of household waste (Environmental Protection Act 1990). A strategic review of the options for succeeding the existing contract, concludes that reprocurement offers the best value at least risk.