URL: https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1335

Decision Maker: Joint Strategic Committee

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: Before the Committee was a report by the Assistant Director for Place and Economy, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 10.   The committee had previously approved a strategy for the replacement of the Council’s HGV fleet and agreed principles for the replacement of the smaller fleet. It agreed to formally review the strategy in 2027.   The Committee gave delegated authority to the Director for Sustainability and Resources, in consultation with the Adur Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and the Worthing Member for Resources, to proceed with the implementation of the fleet replacement program, including initiating and concluding procurement processes and entering into contracts for the supply of containers and vehicles for the service.   In the financial year 2025/26 the HGV fleet was being replaced in line with the strategy. The smaller fleet was also being replaced within the parameters agreed by JSC in February 2025.   Members were asked to revise the proposals for the 2026/27 HGV replacement program in light of cost pressures, the need to properly test electric RCV technology and in recognition of the fact that the fleet now ran on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) rather than diesel which is had resulted in significantly reduced carbon emissions.      Decision:   1.     That the progress on the implementation of the Fleet Replacement Strategy adopted in February 2025 be noted, which includes transitioning the entire fleet to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and the procurement of nine new refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) - one electric and eight with internal combustion engines (ICE).   2.     That it be noted that officers are working on a grant funded project to convert an existing ICE RCV in the fleet to an electric drive train. As part of the project the vehicle body will be refurbished. The project is currently going through the final stages of internal governance before sign off.    3.     That the the following changes to the Fleet Replacement Strategy 2026/27 be agreed:   a.     Delay a further decision on the procurement of e-RCVs until February 2027 to allow the service to test the e-RCV which is on order, and potentially, subject to project sign off, test the e-RCV converted vehicle mentioned above.   b.     Approve the purchase of eight new ICE RCVs and the refurbishment of three of the existing RCV fleet to ensure service resilience and continue to flatten the vehicle replacement curve as agreed in February 2025.   c.     Approve the commissioning of a detailed cost and feasibility study to inform the options to upgrade the infrastructure at Commerce Way depot to accommodate a large scale electric fleet.     4.     That a further report being brought to this committee in early 2027 to confirm the fleet replacement program for 2027/28 informed by the experience of running at least one e-RCV and the findings of the feasibility study mentioned in 2.3.3 above.   Call In: The call-in deadline for decisions will be 5.00pm on 17 February 2026.

Date of Decision: February 5, 2026