William Eichler 12 September 2018

Market ‘best placed’ to deliver value for money for waste collection

Financially struggling local authorities should use competition to drive value for money for waste collections, representatives from the resource and waste management industry say.

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) says councils are moving away from competitive tender procedures for their waste collections, either by moving services in-house or by using a ‘Teckal’ exemption from the Public Procurement Directives.

However, the ESA’s executive director, Jacob Hayler, warns that this is taking away the opportunity for those councils to use the market to find the best solutions to fit their local circumstances.

Speaking at RWM, the sector’s annual trade show in Birmingham’s NEC, Mr Hayler acknowledged the ‘unprecedented’ financial challenges faced by councils today and said they were best placed to decide how they managed their finances.

He said, however, that the ESA believes the market is ‘best placed to deliver value for money.’

‘ESA recognises that many Local Authorities are concerned about locking themselves into inflexible arrangements for up to 10 years for their waste collections,’ he told the RWM audience.

‘But outsourced collection services can provide any degree of flexibility that councils require, provided that such flexibility is built into the commissioning and procurement of these services up-front.

‘By transferring risks to the private sector, Local Authorities are able to insulate themselves from unforeseen costs and gain greater certainty over their budgets.

‘The risk for delivering a quality service to cost lies with the contractor and is enforced through its legal obligations under the contract. This provides transparency and accountability in the delivery of the services, and — above all – value for money for local council tax payers.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Residential Assistant

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £25395.00 per annum
Residential AssistantPermanent, Full Time£25,081 up to £25,395 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Planning Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Durham County Council is looking for experienced and knowledgeable Senior Planning Officers to join our vibrant Development Management team. Our team Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Head of Service – Social Care

Wrexham County Borough Council
G15 £63,148 - £67,058 per annum
There is an exciting opportunity within Children Social Care to join the senior management team Wrexham (Wrecsam)
Recuriter: Wrexham County Borough Council

Head of Service Social Work & Specialist Support

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Grade M scp 60 £72,118 - scp 64 £77,293
There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. Blackburn, Lancashire
Recuriter: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Cafe Assistant - Weald Country Park

Essex County Council
Up to £13.3000 per hour
Café Assistant (Weald Country Park)Contract
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner