WAVERLEY Borough Council has awarded new contracts worth £79m for its waste collection and housing repairs service.

An eight-year contract – with an option to extend for a further two terms, for the collection of residents’ refuse and recycling bins – has been awarded to Biffa following a full tender process, ending the council’s 14-year partnership with current provider Veolia.

Waverley says the contract, which is potentially worth up to £47m and also includes street cleaning, will offer residents the same high level of service they currently receive.

Commencing from November 1, 2019, the council and Biffa will work closely with Veolia to ensure a smooth transition.

Independent borough and town councillor David Beaman, from Farnham, used the members question slot at Waverley’s ‘watchdog’ overview and scrutiny committee, on Monday, to quiz Waverley’s head of environmental services, Richard Homewood, on why Biffa had got the contract.

Mr Beaman asked him:–

•How many bids were received

•If Veolia had submitted a bid

•If the contract was awarded just on price or if quality of service factors were taken into account

•What factors were taken into account were and how were they weighted against price.

Mr Beaman added: “Although it is accepted Biffa are a large and well-known recycling and waste management provider were any references taken of their services provided to other local authorities?

“Is there a termination clause to the contract that can be exercised by both sides?

“What provisions are there for price increases on either a year-on-year inflation basis or when additional services are requested to be provided?”

Mr Homewood said seven bids were received at the pre-qualification stage and only the top four scoring contractors were progressed to tender stage – as the scores obtained by the other three bidders were not ‘deemed acceptable to deliver the level of service Waverley Borough Council expects.’

Of those four bids, two made it to the full tender stage. He was unable to say if Veolia had submitted a bid on grounds of confidentiality.

Mr Homewood said the contract was awarded following a pre-qualification stage, where bidders were scored on quality alone, and a full tender stage, where bids were evaluated on a price/quality split.

As part of the pre-qualification process, Biffa were required to submit details of 10 comparable contracts they have worked on complete with references.

A termination clause has been inserted in the contract that can be exercised by either side under specific circumstances.

Mr Homewood said: “Price increases will be determined by CPI inflation on an annual basis.

“The contractors have bid against a bill of quantities that include a unit price which will enable any increase in housing numbers to be easily incorporated, as well as a schedule of rates for services beyond the core contract.”

Welcoming Biffa on board before the meeting, Waverley’s portfolio holder for environment Andrew Bolton, said: “Procuring efficient, effective and economic waste, recycling and street cleaning services is a high priority for the council.

“The contract, which is worth £4.7million a year and comparable to what we are currently paying, is the single largest council contract awarded and we are delighted we can work with Biffa, which is a highly regarded and established waste company.

“I’d also like to thank Veolia for providing an excellent service of a very high standard to Waverley’s residents for the past 14 years.”

Waverley has also awarded a new repairs and maintenance contract worth up to £32million to property management firm Mitie.

The new contract, worth £3.2million a year, was awarded following a competitive tender process.

It will see Mitie provide and manage repairs and maintenance as well as offering void property protection for the council’s 5,000 properties over an initial five-year term with the option to extend for a further five years.