All Change For Ealing's Rubbish Services
Council want to end contract with current operator Amey
( Cllr Bassam Mahfouz)
Ealing Council wants to end its contract with the company that collects the borough's waste and recycling - and potentially bring it in house.
Recycling and refuse collections across the borough have been carried out by Amey for the last five years. It took over the borough wide operation from Enterprise in February 2013. Enterprise had aquired it from May Gurney in 2012 (which had been awarded a£300 million 15-year contract).
In June 2016 Amey oversaw the introduction of controversial wheelie bins to the borough.
The council say the decision to review the end date of the current contract 'has been taken mutually with Amey' and have confirmed that there is no penalty clause connected to the break in contract or additional cost.
The council will consider either bringing environmental services in-house or running them through a wholly owned local authority company. If agreed, there would be a continuation of current arrangements until services transferred.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure said: “I want the council to have greater control over how these services are managed and delivered. By bringing these services back under our direct management we would have greater control, flexibility and security over a key service for local residents.
“We know how important having good recycling services, clean streets, beautiful parks and open spaces are to local people. By maintaining the high standards of our environmental services into the future we can also build on our superb record of recycling – currently the second highest in the capital at over 50%.
“We will also seek to get a better deal for staff providing these services, including paying them the London Living Wage.”
Councillor Gary Malcolm, Liberal Democrat Leader, said, "Ealing has suffered for most of the period Amey has been responsible for cleaning our streets. Dirty streets, the huge number of fly tips is evidence of this. Liberal Democrats have said for many years that Ealing Council should get rid of Amey and either bring it in house or replace their contractor. From day one this contract has been a disaster. Ealing Council will now need to step up to the plate to ensure that this service is provided to a much higher standard."
Ealing Council says it is suffering ' significant financial pressures', and from April council tax is being increased 5.99%. The council have to find £56million in savings by 2021, bringing the contract in house may reduce costs.
Opposition spokesman, Conservative Councillor Greg Stafford says, 'Whilst not against the principle, I am extremely sceptical that Labour Council can deliver an effective service. They clearly don't have the skills to even manage the current contract properly never mind having to be responsible for it's day to day delivery.
''The most recent quarter shows that the Council has missed it's street cleaning target by over 20%. Rather than changing the contract and the months of disruption that will follow, they should focus on getting our streets clean again.''
Waste & recycling collection, street cleaning, grounds maintenance and burials are all part of environmental services currently provided by Amey.
The decision is subject to approval by the council at next week’s cabinet meeting (20 March).
If agreed, a decision on whether services could be brought in house or run through a local authority company would be considered in June.
14 March 2018