Content

To approve the reappointment of
BioMarsh Environmental Ltd as a
specialist provider to undertake effluent removal services from 1
April 2026 to 31 March 2028, resulting in a two-year fixed term
contractual extension.

Reasons for the decision

The Sewage Treatment Works
service is mandatory, and the Council could face prosecution by the
Environment Agency if this service was not provided to a high level
of satisfaction.
 
The sewage provision service
will be provided by Fenland District Council, or future named
council, post LGR on 1 April 2028 for many years to come, unless
changes in legislation dictate that Statutory Sewage Undertakers
adopt these types of assets and connect unconnected properties to
their sewage systems.
 
The Sewage Treatment Works,
Pumping Stations, Cesspits and other assets outlined in Schedule 1
require routine emptying (de-sludging) as part of their ongoing
maintenance and service program to ensure the effective and safe
operation for our connected customers and the local environment
open ditches and watercourses to which their treated effluent
discharges.
 
The tankering service provision fulfils the
Council’s requirements to facilitate an effective sewerage
service and meet its legal and environmental obligations in
accordance with site specific Environment Agency Discharge Consents
and best practice.
 

The appointedtankeringcontractor isrequired tosafely collectand
appropriatelydispose offoul sewagewaste, sludgeand liquideffluent
fromthe identifiedassets andon occasions,other smallprivate
plantslocated withinthe districtas partof theCouncil’s
EnvironmentalEnforcement Actionprocess, administeredthrough
theEnvironmental ServicesTeam.

The existing three-year contract contains a clause
which indicates an option to extend the contact duration by two
years subject to mutual agreement by both parties.

The current arrangement is operating well. BEL
arrive on time with the correct number of sized tankers as
requested. The units are modern, contain large suction pumps which
quickly empties the plant and are certainly fit for
purpose.

BEL ensure that every m3 of effluent that leaves the
Council’s plants is electronically recorded and can be traced
to where it has been officially discharged. Discharge is generally
at the closest approved Anglian Water Service plant in Kings Lynn
or Peterborough.

During the last 2.5 years an excellent working
relationship has developed between the Council’s Maintenance
Engineer (ME) and the regular BEL Tanker drivers

BEL drivers assist with the programmed service and
de-sludge process in accordance with contractual requirements.
Having a BEL driver on site assisting the ME with his programmed
de-sludge / service process removes many of the risks associated
with lone working practices. The BEL drivers have now become an
integral part of the Council’s STW Maintenance
Team.

If a new provider was appointed, the first year of
the contractual operations would require significant time and
effort by both parties to develop the level of service provision to
meet the standards the Council receives today.

In December 2025, BEL indicated that they would be
happy to extend the contract for two years, expiring on 31 March
2028.

The current and proposed rate card is detailed in
Schedule 2. An approximate 4% increase is to be applied to the
2025/26 rates for 2026/27. The rates for 2027/28 shall remain as
per 20267/27, i.e. no increase for the last year of the
Contract.

The overall value of this appointment is expected to
be in the region of £220k to £240k.
 

Alternative options considered

In House Provision
The tankering service provision cannot be undertaken
in-house as the Council does not have a tanker or staff resources
to operate such a service.
The re-introduction of an
in-house provision is not considered financially viable or
practical for the Council to adopt.
 
New Procurement
Exercise
A new contract could be
re-tendered, however the duration for the appointment would only be
for a maximum of two years due to LGR commencing on 1 April
2028.
A re-tender would re-test the
open market for the cheapest service provision, however it poses a
risk that received prices could be higher than those proposed by
BEL; resulting in the Council being charged more for the same
service provision.