The proposals being made by Mercia Waste Management for the treatment of residual waste are considered.

            THAT:                        Subject to Worcestershire County Council giving approvals substantially in the same form as those contained in the recommendations of this report

 (a)         Notes, pursuant to the Cabinet Report of 16^th February 2012 relating to a variation to the existing waste contract to provide for an Energy from Waste plant at Hartlebury Trading Estate (the EfW Plant), the ongoing discussions with Mercia Waste Management Limited (Mercia) in relation to their proposals and the current status of satisfaction of the Parameters identified in that report;

(b)             Cabinet authorised the Director for Places and Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Major Contracts, the  Chief Officer Finance and Commercial and Worcestershire County Council and through the joint governance arrangements between the two authorities to pursue terms for alternative methods of finance for the EfW plant;

(c)              

                                                     (i)        authorised the Director for Places and Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Major Contracts and Worcestershire County Council and through the joint governance arrangements between the two authorities, to consider how the commissioning and operation of the EfW Plant could be integrated into the existing arrangements with Mercia, and

                                                   (ii)        if the Director for Places and Communities considered there was no satisfactory resolution in respect of point (i) above then (subject to f) below) he is authorised if he considers it necessary (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Major Contracts and Worcestershire County Council and through the joint governance arrangements between the two authorities)to launch a tendering exercise to commence the direct procurement by the 2 Councils of the EfW Plant in accordance with paragraph 9.9 below;

(d)             Notes that Worcestershire County Council is authorised to procure and commence enabling works up to a maximum capital cost of £1.8m at Hartlebury in order to maintain the programme for the EfW Plant;

(e)             Requires the Director of Places and Communities to report back during the summer of  2013 with proposals for financing and procuring the EfW plant (by variation of the existing PFI contract or fresh procurement) to enable Cabinet to take a final decision; and

(f)              Notes that Worcestershire County Council is expected to approve similar recommendations and that c ii) is subject to satisfactory negotiation and agreement with Worcestershire County Council of necessary amendments to the current Joint Working Agreement in place between the Councils; and

(g)             Requires the Director for Places and Communities to report back to the Cabinet in the report referred to in (e) on the decisions taken by Worcestershire County Council on waste contract management and any implications for Herefordshire Council, .

The recommendations allow the Councils to explore options that potentially deliver better value for money and reducing any adverse effects of programme delay by commencing enabling works at Hartlebury.

The purpose of this report is to allow Officers to explore alternative options for the financing the EfW at Hartlebury.