Decision details

This decision notice relates to the following project, which is required in order to comply with the necessary Environment Agency Permit for Manston Road Depot to operate.

It is a requirement of the site permit that the sweepings from mechanical road sweepers are de-watered prior to being taken to the transfer station for treatment and disposal. We do not currently have a dedicated area with an impermeable surface within the yard to do this. The current ‘work around’ for de-watering of the arisings from the mechanical street sweepers meets EA regulations, however it is restricting the use of the wash down area to clean front line service vehicles and causing the interceptors to block requiring extra resource to clear.

This is causing disruption to service and inefficiencies in working time. The current skips are in a bad state of repair and have been refurbished more than once. Council was currently hiring usable skips from external suppliers at a cost, which purchasing our own would remove. Council also needed to comply with the rules on dry storage of plasterboard on site.

The requirements to be funded from the capital programme are as follows:

1.  A dedicated bunded tipping area will enable the sweepings to be properly de-watered and ensure that there is no risk of leachate seeping through the yard surface and entering the water table. Additionally sweepers will be able to tip safely as designed by the manufacturer. Access to vehicle wash down area will be un-hindered allowing front-line vehicles to be properly cleaned and therefore helping to extend their working life.

2.  Purchase of 11 skips, including covered containment for plasterboard. The total cost of this capital project is £56,000 to be funded from revenue.

To approve the purchase of 11 skips, including covered containment for plasterboard for a total cost of £56,000 to be funded from the revenue budget.

To comply with EA inspection recommendations and to operate effectively.

Hiring in of skips would not be cost effective. Not completing the other works could breach EA regulations.