Early bids for a new waste collection and street cleaning contract in Tendring suggest the annual cost could rise by more than £7m per year – prompting a rethink by Tendring District Council (TDC).
The current contract with Veolia Environmental Services expires in early 2026 and, in order to comply with environmental legislation, any new contract – which would have run for eight years – must include kerbside glass and plastic collections.
Now TDC’s cabinet is to consider revising the contract, partly because of the cost increase, but also due to the impending Essex devolution programme which is likely to see the council merged into a larger unitary authority. The contract term could be reduced to three years as a result.
TDC says it remains committed to fortnightly collections, but may look at “altering enhancements” in the original contract “that were aimed at providing the best possible street cleaning service for high footfall areas of the district”.
In practice, this could mean keeping to the current street cleaning specifications, under which streets are cleaned at regular times, rather than as-and-when required, and not funding the up-front purchase of any vehicles required. Live monitoring of contractor vehicles and operatives, as well as performance management indicators – also included in the bid specifications – might now be included as an option to reduce costs.
Adrian Smith, TDC’s cabinet member for environment, said: “It had been expected that the underlying costs of the contractors would rise due to inflationary pressures, while costs have also increased due to the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 that introduces additional kerbside recycling from 2026.”
He added: “We remain committed to delivering a high-quality waste and recycling service that meets the needs of our residents and protects our environment, but we must also be realistic about local government reorganisation and what is affordable for TDC.”
Cabinet members are expected to discuss the contract at their meeting on Friday, May 23.
