Cleanaway-owned Serviceteam beat Onyx and Cory Environmental to receive preferred bidder status at a meeting of the city council's policy and resources committee last night (August 9).
Serviceteam should take over the refuse collection from SITA in October. The council ended SITA's 6.7 million five-year contract in June after only 18 months following conflict with the workforce which led to the sacking of 130 binmen. SITA agreed to pay the council 3 million in compensation to end the contract and leave Brighton.
Deputy Leader Councillor Jackie Lythell said: “We are now well placed to have a suitably experienced contractor in place when SITA leaves – a contractor who both understands the issues, the needs of the area and for the involvement of the workforce and local community groups.
“Over the next few weeks, the council and Serviceteam will be negotiating the complex details relating to the contract in order to ensure that the residents of Brighton and Hove see improved and reliable refuse collection and street cleansing services. We are looking for a smooth transfer of the contract from SITA to Serviceteam as soon as practicable.”
She added: “It is my sincere hope that all involved will now co-operate fully to provide local people with quality refuse collection and cleansing services.”
Recycling push
Phil Walker, of Serviceteam, said: “We only have preferred bidder status at the moment but we are in negotiations with the local authority to look at how we can improve the service. A major recycling push will be part of our proposals and should enable the council to hit its 30% diversion targets.”
Although SITA's contract ends on September 14 discussions took place with the council earlier this month which saw the company agree to stay on until a new contractor was found.
A spokesman for SITA said: “If the new contractor can move in at the beginning of October then all well and good. But, if needs be we can stay to ensure there is a smooth transition but no longer than October 14.”
A spokeswoman for the council said: “SITA has agreed to stay on until October 14 but they don't want to extend it any further and we hope that the new contractor will start on the October 1. Although this is the target date a lot of work has to be done before then. We need to find out what works and what needs improving, work and management practices and equipment all need to be looked at.”
Serviceteam is the largest supplier of municipal refuse, street sweeping and recycling services to councils. The company has over 200 million worth of contracts for about 80 councils' refuse and street cleaning services including Camden, Crawley, Hackney and Lambeth.
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