Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Committee - 21/08/2023

At a MEETING of the CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY COMMITTEE held remotely on 21st August, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Heather ANDERSON, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II PURCHASE OF GREEN WASTE SHREDDER AT RIVERSIDE COMPOSTING FACILITY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN24-2023, advising that there was an ongoing operational requirement to manage organic waste generated from kerbside collections, garden waste from recycling centres and third-party green waste delivered to Riverside Composting facility.

All organic waste feedstocks were subjected to shredding (mechanical processing) as the first part of the 14-week composting process. Continued certification to BSI PAS 100:2018 allowed processed material to be made available for soft landscaping, leisure gardening, land restoration and agriculture and not to be treated as a waste, which would increase disposal costs.

The processing of organic waste had been resourced in recent years through a hire arrangement. The purchase of a green waste shredder would deliver an in-house service, utilising existing staff resources and would allow a revenue saving to be realised. Additionally, this would provide greater operational flexibility on when shredding could take place for the quantity of material delivered, which would reduce both odour complaints and mitigate the fire risk.

Dundee City Councils Corporate Procurement Team recommended that an invitation to tender via an open contract notice, was the preferred procurement route for this contract.

Following the tender closing date, evaluations were completed in July, 2023. The bids were evaluated on price, product specification, delivery, service, warranty and spare parts, in order to find the most economically advantageous tender.

Two bids were received, and following the subsequent evaluation of the bids, the table below demonstrated that Blue Machinery (Scotland) Ltd, Stirling, were the most economically advantageous bidder.

The Committee agreed that the offer from Blue Machinery (Scotland) Ltd be accepted, noting that delivery of the green waste shredder would be completed by December, 2023.

Bidders were asked to provide a list of optional items within the pricing schedule. The Committee further agreed that approval be given for the optional item of a caterpillar tracked unit to be included in the offer from Blue Machinery (Scotland) Ltd at the cost of 112,000.

The Executive Director of Corporate Services advised that the costs of 460,650 could be met from allowances for Recycling Initiatives in 2023/2024 that were included within the Tackle Climate Change and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045 section of the General Services Capital Plan 2023/2028.

The operator training and the maintenance contract would be funded from within the existing Neighbourhood Services revenue budget.

III CONTRACT FOR PROCUREMENT FRAMEWORK TO MANAGE ASH DIEBACK

There was submitted Report No 214-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an update on the development of a sourcing strategy for the competitive procurement exercise for a Supply Framework for surveying and removal of trees affected by Ash Dieback and seeking approval to commence a compliant procurement process and permission to award.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the commencement of a procurement exercise in respect of the project described, based on the sourcing strategy, summarised in the report; and

(ii) to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Corporate Services to award a contract to the successful bidder, following a tender process carried out in compliance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations of 2015.

IV ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT WORKS 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 217-2023 by Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, seeking approval for further Environmental Improvements as part of the 2023/2024 programme.

The Committee agreed that approval be given for the projects detailed below:-

V POLICY FOR PROVISION OF MEMORIAL BENCHES, PLAQUES AND TREES IN PUBLIC PARKS, OPEN SPACES AND CEMETERIES

There was submitted Report No 219-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, seeking approval to implement the new policy, namely the Policy for Provision of Memorial Benches, Plaques and Trees in Public Parks, Open Spaces and Cemeteries.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the report and remit the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services to take forward the policy appended to the report in order to improve service provision and customer experience.

VI TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR CITY CAMPAIGN

There was submitted Report No 218-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an update on the progress of the Take Pride in Your City campaign.

The Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

Heather ANDERSON, Convener.