Agenda item

This report seeks the approval of the Environment Committee to give the Group Head of Environment and Climate Change delegated authority to sign up to a framework agreement.

The framework provides access to a specialist clean-up and disposal contractor, at pre-agreed rates, to be used in the event of significant coastal pollution on Arun District Council’s coastal shoreline. Typically the pollution would be oil but other pollutants such as overboard cargo may be included.

[15 Minutes]

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Emergency Planning Officer presented this report to the Committee. He explained the report sought the approval of the Committee to give the Group Head of Environment and Climate Change delegated authority to sign

up to a framework agreement which provided access to a specialist clean-up and disposal contractor, at pre-agreed rates, to be used in the event of significant coastal pollution on Arun District Council’s coastal shoreline. Typically, the pollution would be oil but other pollutants such as overboard cargo may be included. The objective of the framework was to be able to appoint specialist contractors to perform the coastal pollution  clean-up role on behalf of district and borough councils and a coastal pollution waste disposal service on behalf of the upper tier authorities. The framework contractor would have the capability to provide a 24 hour emergency spill response; provide specialist staff; carry out sampling and analysis; conduct environmental site investigations; they had specialist clean-up equipment; were able to carry out remediation of contaminated sites; and they had waste disposal facilities. Benefits of signing up to the agreement included there being no requirement to conduct a costly and time-consuming procurement exercise, the framework agreement offered a means of calling off services that had already been competitively tendered, there would be no retainer fee incurred for Arun.

          Members then took part in a question-and-answer session and the following points were made:

·       It was asked how often anything like this had been used in the last five years. The Emergency Planning Officer confirmed such a service had not been required in the previous 5 years.

·       Would this cover pollution coming from pipes from land into the sea? It was confirmed that only pollution coming from the sea would be covered.

·       The issue of coastal pollution coming from land was discussed and it was felt this needed to be dealt with separately.

·       Members expressed their support for signing up to the framework agreement.

The Chair expressed his support for signing up to the framework agreement, however wanted to sign this himself on behalf of the Committee, rather than delegating authority for the Officer to sign it. The Chair then Proposed an amendment to the recommendation as follows:

The Chair of the Environment Committee sign the ‘Access Agreement relating to the Framework Agreement for the Sussex Coastal Pollution Clean-up and Disposal Service’. If this is not possible, then the Environment Committee approve the delegated authority for the Group Head of Environment and Climate Change to sign the ‘Access Agreement relating to the Framework Agreement for the Sussex Coastal Pollution Clean-up and Disposal Service’.

This amendment was Seconded by Councillor P. English.

The Chair invited debate on the amendment. It was stated that all that mattered was that the framework agreement was signed, and it was felt unnecessary to change the recommendation.

Following a vote, the amendment was confirmed as CARRIED.

The substantive recommendation was Proposed by Councillor Bicknell and Seconded by Councillor Edwards.

          The Committee

RESOLVED

That the Chair of the Environment Committee sign the ‘Access Agreement relating to the Framework Agreement for the Sussex Coastal Pollution Clean-up and Disposal Service’. If this is not possible, then the Environment Committee approve the delegated authority for the Group Head of Environment and Climate Change to sign the ‘Access Agreement relating to the Framework Agreement for the Sussex Coastal Pollution Clean-up and Disposal Service’.