First council commits to using iESE waste framework

Tandridge district council in Surrey has become the first local authority to commit to using the UKs first waste services framework.

However, the local authority will only be using the part of the framework which covers the procurement of grounds maintenance services. And, none of the remaining 140 councils signed up to the Framework have yet committed to using it.

The frameworkwas developed by Improvement and Efficiency South East (iESE) and the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWaRB) and has been open for business since June (see letsrecycle.com story) .

Signatory councils can use it to procure services for grounds maintenance, waste and recycling collections, street cleansing, and, bulky waste collection.

The councils can carry out a mini-procurement exercise from the ten suppliers on the framework who include AmeyCespa, FCC Environment, SITA UK, and, Veolia Environmental Services (see letsrecycle.com story).

The framework is intended to save councils time and money involved in carrying out full procurement processes.

However, since its inception it has come under criticism from some for who believe it does not offer value for money to councils. Waste firm Biffa, which declined to tender for the framework, said that it did not offer the required value opportunity for either the public or private sectors (see letsrecycle.com story).

One of the contractors on the framework, bulky waste specialist AnyJunk, also withdrew earlier this month, claiming that the frameworks one size fits all contract structure and pricing mechanism restricted rather than encouraged innovation bulky waste collection.

And, earlier this month (July 12), the London borough of Islington, which it had been hoped would be the first high-profile council to use the framework to procure waste collection services, said that it had decided to bring its services in-house instead (see letsrecyle.com story).

Leverage

Despite the lack of commitment to date, iESE said it expects more councils to come on board as it is actively promoting the framework to the remaining 139 local authorities. It is available to councils in London, the greater South East and the West Midlands and is open for a period of four years.

Commenting on the framework, Paul Bettison, chairman of iESE, said: Our framework covers the services that really matter to people, giving councils the opportunity to deliver even better services, save money, and work with waste contractors in a much more transparent way. Having Tandridge district councils commitment to the Framework is fantastic news. As more councils come on board, the greater the market leverage will be.

Tandridge

Following the announcement that Tandridge is the first council to commit to the framework, iESE is working with the council to develop the documentation needed. The council is expected to enter the expression of interest stage in August 2012.

Commenting on why Tandridge chose to use the framework, Councillor Tony Elias, chairman ofthe councils community services committee, said: This was the best procurement route for our council and an exciting opportunity to be part of this innovative solution. This framework has made us appreciate the potential benefits of using frameworks for other services, whether those frameworks are delivered by iESE or elsewhere.

We are also looking at other contracts and we are likely to call upon the expertise of iESE to support us in ensuring these too are procured in the most efficient and compliant way. If local authorities are able to look to markets and approach them from a more joined-up position, we could certainly start to use our buying power to make sure all our residents and communities are getting the best deal.