The recommendation to jointly procure food waste vehicles with the Liverpool City Region, was agreed at the Environment, Climate Emergency & Transport Committee on the 11 March 2025.  The required decision is now for Wirral Council to award the contract to the successful bidder, Faun.  Making the decision now and placing the order will ensure the Council receives the food waste vehicles in time for the food waste contract variation order with Biffa to commence on time in April 2026. Whilst the Liverpool City Region Partnership has all procured in concert, it is for each of the individual authorities to place their own individual orders the Liverpool City Region is a collection of authorities and not a legally constituted Partnership. Whilst members have been made aware of the need for this decision in March 2025, officers overlooked the need to ensure that this matter was place on the Council’s Forward Plan.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services has decided to award of a contract via NEPO  Purchase of HGV and Specialist Vehicles Framework (NEPO224): Lot 2. for the delivery of 15 twelve tonne DAF XB210 FZUK food waste vehicles, to FAUN Zoeller (UK) Limited at a total cost of £2,064,046.00.

The recommendation to jointly procure food waste vehicles with the Liverpool City Region, was agreed at ECET committee on the 11 March 2025.  The required decision is now for Wirral Council to award the contract to the successful bidder, Faun.  Making the decision now and placing the order will ensure the Council receives the food waste vehicles in time for the food waste contract variation order with Biffa to commence on time in April 2026. Whilst the Liverpool City Region Partnership has all procured in concert, it is for each of the individual authorities to place their own individual orders the Liverpool City Region is a collection of authorities and not a legally constituted Partnership. Whilst members have been made aware of the need for this decision in March 2025, due to the urgent need for a contract to be placed and the fact that there is no meeting of the ECET committee due to take place until June 2025 this decision is being taken by the Director of Neighbourhoods in accordance with paragraph 10 of Part 3 Section C of the Council’s Constitution.

A variation of the waste collection services provided under the contract with Biffa Waste Services Ltd will enable the Council to discharge its duty to collect household and non-household food waste from 2026 The decision will enable the purchase of the required food waste vehicles in time by April 2026 to enable the food waste collection service to be provided 

The Liverpool City Region Waste & Resources Partnership decided to jointly procure the vehicles via NEPO Purchase of HGV and Specialist Vehicles Framework (NEPO224): Lot 2. Prices were based on a range of vehicle specs & requirements for each of the 6 Local Authority Partners with individual call-off/supply contracts to meet their specific requirements.

The recommendations are made further to legal advice from the Monitoring Officer and the Section 151 Officer has confirmed that they do not incur unlawful expenditure. They are also compliant with equality legislation and an equality analysis and impact assessment has been completed. The recommendations reflect the core principles of good governance set out in the Council’s Code of Corporate Governance.

This decision is being taken by the Director of Neighbourhoods in accordance with paragraph 10 of Part 3 Section C of the Council’s Constitution after consultation with the Chair the relevant Committee, and that of both the Head of Paid Service and the Monitoring Officer due to the urgent need for a contract to be placed and the fact that there is no meeting of the ECET committee due to take place until June 2025.