Decision details

Before the Committee was a report by the Assistant Director for People and Change, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 8.

Adur and Worthing councils operated a fleet of vehicles to deliver frontline services, including waste and cleansing, parks services and building services. The fleet was council owned and largely operated from the Commerce Way depot on Lancing Business Park. The fleet was a costly but essential aspect of service delivery and its reliability determined the quality and resilience of services and has a direct impact on the reputation of the Councils.

The fleet largely consisted of diesel ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles responsible for >45% of the council's carbon emissions, and the majority of that (75%) is emitted by the 31 HGV vehicles the council operated. These were mainly refuse and recycling vehicles. The councils had committed to being carbon neutral by 2030 and addressing the fleet emissions was a critical aspect to meeting that target.

In 2023 the councils commissioned the consultancy Ricardo to develop an options appraisal for its fleet strategy that delivered the decarbonisation required to meet the carbon neutral target whilst meeting the operational needs of the service. The main consideration was the replacement of the HGV fleet. 21 of the current refuse and recycling vehicles were purchased in 2016/17 and were due for replacement in 2026/27.

This report before Members summarised the option appraisal that was carried out and set out recommendations for the replacement of the HGV waste and cleansing fleet that had regard for the operational requirements of the services, value for money (taking into account vehicle life cycle costs) and the council's carbon neutral targets. It sought authorisation to proceed with the fleet replacement program for the waste and cleansing service through delegated authority to the Director for Sustainability and Resources in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members. The replacement program for the wider fleet was also being worked up in the background. These were smaller vehicles, being replaced more gradually through scheduled replacement.

Decision:

1.    That the committee agrees to replacing the council HGV fleet along the following principles:

a.    To transition away from diesel/ICE vehicles by 2030/31, with a formal review point in 2027 to reassess costs and technology.

b.    To purchase and start to test one eRCV in the next financial year (2025/26)

c.    To flatten the vehicle replacement curve for HGVs, moving away from bulk replacement of 21 vehicles in one year, instead purchasing a smaller number of vehicles on an annual basis.

d.    In order to deliver the flattening of the curve to take a blended approach (as detailed in this report) consisting of refurbishing existing HGV vehicles, and purchasing a small number of second hand vehicles reducing the immediate demand for new diesel vehicles.

e.    To minimise our carbon emissions to transition the remaining diesel vehicles which are suitable for HVO to this fuel source in 2025/26 at the latest subject to budget availability and availability of sustainably certified fuel.

2.    That the committee agrees to replacing the council’s fleet of smaller vehicles (up to 3.5t) with EVs when they are due for replacement subject to market availability and the technology meeting operational requirements and falling within the agreed capital program.

3.    That the Committee give delegated authority to the Director for Sustainability and Resources, in consultation with the Adur Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and the Worthing Member for Resources, to proceed with the implementation of the fleet replacement program, including initiating and concluding procurement processes and entering into contracts for the supply of containers and vehicles for the service.

4.    That, in line with the recommendations agreed at the 17 July 2024 JSC report on SImpler Recycling and Food Waste Collections, the committee notes that officers will commence with the procurement of vehicles and containers for the food waste collection service, within the limitations of the capital funds allocated by DEFRA.

Call In: The call-in deadline for decisions will be 5.00pm on 18 February 2025