Issue - meetings
Agreement for Waste, Street Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance Services
Meeting: 05/02/2026 - Cabinet (Item 201)
201 Contract for Waste, Street Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance Services 
PDF 560 KB
Purpose:
To seek Cabinet’s approval to proceed with negotiating and to enter into a Common Service Agreement with Ubico Limited for the delivery of waste collection, street cleansing, and grounds maintenance services.
The proposed agreement would replace the current contract, which ends on 31 March 2027.
Recommendations:
That Cabinet resolves to:
1. Enter into a Common Service Agreement with UBICO as described in the report; and
2. Delegate authority to the Director of Communities and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory Services to agree the final terms of the agreement with Ubico.
Additional documents:
- Annex A - Delivery Models - Risks and Benefits, item 201
PDF 624 KB
- Webcast for Contract for Waste, Street Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance Services
Decision:
The purpose of the report was to seek Cabinet approval to proceed with negotiations and to enter into a Common Service Agreement with Ubico Limited for the delivery of waste collection, street cleansing, and grounds maintenance services, with the new agreement proposed to replace the current contract which was due to expire on 31 March 2027.
Councillor Andrea Pellegram, Cabinet Member for Environment & Regulatory Services, introduced the report which described Cotswold District Council’s current Service Contract with Ubico Limited for waste collection, street cleansing, and grounds maintenance which was due to expire on 31 March 2027. Ubico had proposed replacing individual contracts with a Common Service Agreement across its shareholder authorities, providing a single contractual framework while allowing for local service specifications.
Given the scale of Local Government Reorganisation and the need to maintain service continuity, the Common Service Agreement (CSA) was described as a proportionate and flexible approach, with the CSA providing a shared contractual framework across shareholder authorities while allowing locally tailored service specifications.
It was noted that the approach supported service continuity, allowed for future flexibility in light of Local Government Reorganisation, and enabled novation to a new Unitary Authority if required. Alternative delivery models were noted but, given the timing and scale of Local Government Reorganisation, continuation of the current delivery model was considered the most proportionate approach at this stage.
The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Andrea Pellegram and seconded by Councillor Mike Evemy.
RESOLVED that Cabinet agreed to :
1. enter into a Common Service Agreement with Ubico as described in this report, and
2. delegated authority to the Director of Communities and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory Services to agree the final terms of the agreement with Ubico.
Voting record:
7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions
Minutes:
The purpose of the report was to seek Cabinet approval to proceed with negotiations and to enter into a Common Service Agreement with Ubico Limited for the delivery of waste collection, street cleansing, and grounds maintenance services, with the new agreement proposed to replace the current contract which was due to expire on 31 March 2027.
Councillor Andrea Pellegram, Cabinet Member for Environment & Regulatory Services, introduced the report which described Cotswold District Council’s current Service Contract with Ubico Limited for waste collection, street cleansing, and grounds maintenance which was due to expire on 31 March 2027. Ubico had proposed replacing individual contracts with a Common Service Agreement across its shareholder authorities, providing a single contractual framework while allowing for local service specifications.
Given the scale of Local Government Reorganisation and the need to maintain service continuity, the Common Service Agreement (CSA) was described as a proportionate and flexible approach, with the CSA providing a shared contractual framework across shareholder authorities while allowing locally tailored service specifications.
It was noted that the approach supported service continuity, allowed for future flexibility in light of Local Government Reorganisation, and enabled novation to a new Unitary Authority if required. Alternative delivery models were noted but, given the timing and scale of Local Government Reorganisation, continuation of the current delivery model was considered the most proportionate approach at this stage.
The Leader invited Councillors to speak.
Councillor Tony Dale stated that the proposal made considerable sense, noting his experience of the challenges faced by Ubico in managing diverse council requirements for waste collection and recycling. He commended the Chief Executive of Ubico for effectively coordinating multiple contracts and supported the move to a common services agreement, emphasising that it should benefit both Ubico and the councils involved, including the forthcoming unitary authority, by creating a more efficient and streamlined service.
The Leader noted that the current contract would end before the council’s term and that renegotiating it now would be a distraction. He agreed that a common agreement would allow Ubico and the councils to plan future services across an expanded footprint, enabling greater flexibility and efficiency while providing a foundation for the new unitary authority to develop services consistently across Gloucestershire.
The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Andrea Pellegram and seconded by Councillor Mike Evemy.
The proposal was put to the vote and agreed by Cabinet.
Voting record:
7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions