Reinstate the re-use centre at La Collette (P.65/2023) - amendment

STATES OF JERSEY

REINSTATE THE RE-USE CENTRE AT LA COLLETTE (P.59/2023) – AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 5th September 2023 by the Minister for Infrastructure

Earliest date for debate: 12th September 2023

STATES GREFFE

2023  P.65 Amd.

REINSTATE THE RE-USE CENTRE AT LA COLLETTE (P.65/2023):

AMENDMENT (P.65/2023 AMD.)

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For the words “the end of 2023” substitute “April 2024” and for the words “and with” substitute “, to allow for the current tender process for operation of the service to be completed and, if this is not successful, to look at the feasibility of the re-use centre being.”

MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion −

“to request the Minister for Infrastructure to take the necessary steps to reinstate the re- use centre at La Collette by April 2024, in the existing purpose-built building, to allow for the current tender process for operation of the service to be completed and, if this is not  successful,  to  look  at  the  feasibility  of  the  re-use  centre  being  operated  by Government of Jersey employees.”

REPORT

The Minister for Infrastructure  is fully supportive  of the principle of introducing measures to increase re-use and recycling, provided such services are feasible and practical and do not result in an excessive burden that detracts from existing essential services. The Minister has been contacted by members of the Jersey in Transition group regarding the Re-use centre at La Collette and specialist officers met them on site to discuss possible options. Separately, a number of enquiries had been received from potentially viable operators who had proposals to use the site and offer re-use or recycling services.

The Minister decided that a competitive tender process should proceed in order to select an external operator that would provide the most efficient, effective recycling service on the site.

Reuse areas are common at local authority sites in the UK and are generally either run through partnership or contractual agreements with charitable organisations or by staff on the site. They do not come without their issues and can if not managed become dumping grounds and create additional hazards for members of the public accessing the site. Recent experience of UK authorities also shows that the volume of material received can soon overwhelm the facility if not carefully managed and this was a factor in the previous operator terminating their lease for the La Collette facility.

In addition, there is a wide range of items that cannot be accepted for re-use because they require additional checks or certification before being made available for reuse. These items generally have an inherent safety risk or hold personal data, and without the proper controls in place present liability issues as well as fire safety risks

Using a third-party operator with the necessary expertise and staff would provide the most efficient use of the building and would provide a service at no cost to Jersey taxpayers. Officers were asked to take the necessary steps and, as a result, the process is now under way with the following expected time frame:

1. Supplier Engagement – August to 30 September
2. Drafting and approval of Procurement Strategy - 2 October to 30 November
3. PQQ/Invitation To Tender - 1 November to 1 March 2024
4. Target for commencement of service - April 2024

The Minister met Deputy Curtis on 30 August to explain the plan to select a third-party operator for the Reuse facility. As a logical first step, she was asked to consider delaying the debate of P.65 so that the tender process could be completed. If this is successful, the facility could be reopened without any cost to the public.

A follow-up meeting with Deputy Curtis and Solid Waste officers is planned for 6 September on site at La Collette to view the facility and explain its limitations.

The building is set up as a reception facility for onward distribution of collected material to charities to sell or distribute. Space is limited and would need to be closely managed because the range of items that can be collected and redistributed is limited because of health and safety issues. An external operator would have the necessary expertise, additional staff and focus to run the service.

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P.65/2023 Amd.

Financial and staffing implications

Budget for additional staffing to cover this service is not in the current departmental business plan. Engaging an external operator would result in no additional financial or manpower implications for the Infrastructure Department. If internal staff are required to operate the facility, it is likely to divert two to three employees from existing duties. States Members are asked to note that the Department is currently understaffed and other services will therefore be affected, reduced or discontinued as a result of this proposition if approved unamended.