Decision details

The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Waste Management presented the report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods which proposed to relocate all Recycling2Go services to Nottingham City Council’s Eastcroft Depot. The Portfolio Holder explained that following Cabinet’s approval for the land at Chapel Lane, Bingham in February 2018 to be leased to Streetwise Environmental and part of R2Go as their new depot site (Minute No. 47 2017/18), Streetwise advised that it was no longer an ideal location for them as property and operating costs would increase and that there would be a loss in productivity due to the distance from their main client and staff base. It was therefore, recommended that the whole of the Council’s Recycling2Go service be relocated to Nottingham City Council’s Eastcroft depot site while Streetwise be provided with further time to source an alternative operating base.  

The Portfolio Holder noted that the Council had secured £300,000 of Homes England Land Release Funding for the Abbey Road site which could only be granted if the land was available to release for housing by March 2020. The Portfolio Holder stated that it was therefore, essential that the Abbey Road depot site be vacated by November 2019 in order for the Council to secure the funding to develop housing on the site. It was noted that Streetwise Environmental Ltd had stated that they were committed to find an alternative location to operate from and that they have expressed that the depot should be based within the greater West Bridgford area in order to minimise loss of productivity arising from travel times to their main client base which the Council acknowledged and supported. 

It seconding the recommendations Councillor Edyvean noted that the Council already worked successfully in partnership with Nottingham City Council as they maintained both the Council’s fleet and vehicles owned by Streetwise Environmental Ltd under a cooperation agreement. 

Councillor Robinson noted that this agreement would provide an excellent example of partnerships between public sectors and that if the Recyclying2Go facilities were moved to the East Croft depot it would aid the achievement of the Corporate Strategic Task of to relocate the Council’s depot by March 2020 to enable the site to be used for residential housing.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The relocation of the whole Recycling2Go service to operate from Nottingham City Eastcroft depot for an initial license term of five years be approved.

b)    The Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods be authorised to negotiate the final details of the license agreement with Nottingham City Council.

c)    The payment of the workplace parking levy for staff affected by the move be approved.

d)    Streetwise Environmental Ltd remain on the Abbey Road Site until October 2019 in order to support their endeavours to find an alternative site of which an outcome will be reported back to Cabinet.

e)    The Council’s continued support to Streetwise Environmental Ltd to find an alternative operated base be endorsed.

f)     The cost pressures identified within the report be noted and be included within the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Reason for decisions

Entering into a licence agreement with Nottingham City Council for use of land and facilities at Eastcroft represents the only viable option currently available for relocation of the whole Recycling2go service. A decision not to move to Eastcroft would compromise making a significant step towards achieving the Corporate strategic task to relocate the Council Depot by March 2020.