Decision
Analysis
outcome: The Cabinet approved the virement of £957k from the Vehicle Replacement Programme budget to the Infrastructure Improvement Project budget and approved the key decision to award a construction works contract for the project.
summary: The decision involves reallocating funding from the Vehicle Replacement Programme to the Manston Road Depot Environmental Compliance Project to improve waste storage and surface water drainage.
topline: The Cabinet has decided to reallocate funding to improve waste storage and drainage at Manston Road Depot.
reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves reallocating funds from one project to another, potentially impacting the council's vehicle fleet.
affected_stakeholders: ["Council's cleansing service", "Vehicle fleet staff", "Environment Agency"]
contentiousness_score: 5
political_party_relevance: There are no mentions or implications of political parties or political influence on the decision.
URL: https://democracy.thanet.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5404
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Outcome:
Is Key Decision?: Yes
Is Callable In?: Yes
Purpose: Manston Road Depot is the operational base for the council's cleansing service and vehicle fleet. Part of the depot is designated as a Household, Commercial and Industrial Waste Transfer Station. Construction works are required at the depot to deliver the Manston Road Depot Environmental Compliance Project. This project will improve waste storage provision and surface water drainage to meet strict environmental permitting requirements. The required works cannot be delivered within the budget available and the report proposed the reallocation of funding from the Vehicle Replacement Programme to this project. The report also proposed the approval of the key decision to award a construction works contract.
Content: Manston Road Depot is the operational base for the council's cleansing service and vehicle fleet. Part of the depot is designated as a Household, Commercial and Industrial Waste Transfer Station. Construction works are required at the depot to deliver the Manston Road Depot Environmental Compliance Project. This project will improve waste storage provision and surface water drainage to meet strict environmental permitting requirements. The required works cannot be delivered within the budget available and the report proposed the reallocation of funding from the Vehicle Replacement Programme to this project. The report also proposed the approval of the key decision to award a construction works contract. That Cabinet: 1. approve the virement of £957k from the 2025/26 Vehicle Replacement Programme budget to the Infrastructure Improvement Project budget (the budget for the Manston Road Depot Environmental Compliance Works). 2. approve the key decision to award a contract for the delivery of the Manston Road Depot Environmental Compliance Works with an estimated value of £1,761k. To improve waste storage and surface water drainage provision at Manston Road depot to meet strict environmental permitting requirements. This decision supports the council's statutory obligations in relation to household waste and recycling collection and street cleansing. The alternative of not reallocating funding to the scheme was considered along with the possibility of making a new capital bid for the funding in 2026/27. These alternatives were rejected as they would not allow the project to be delivered this financial year and would likely result in enforcement action being taken against the council by the Environment Agency as regulator.
Date of Decision: September 5, 2025