Decision

To approve the appointment of Binder Ltd as Principal Contractor to undertake the detailed design and construction of the proposed replacement sewage treatment works at Newlands Road, Parson Drove, for the contract sum of £179,976.68.

Background

The Council-owned, managed and operated Sewage Treatment Works at Newlands Road, Parson Drove has reached the end of its operational life and requires replacement. The existing asset is more than 30 years old and now requires substantial capital investment to ensure the continued provision of an effective and reliable service for its connected customers.

The proposed replacement works will provide a sustainable solution with an expected operational life of at least 25 years, while ensuring continued compliance with the Council’s statutory obligations and the Environment Agency’s Final Effluent Discharge Consent standards applicable to the site.

Procurement

The procurement and delivery of this project have been undertaken in accordance with the Council’s Code of Procurement, with Binder Ltd identified as the preferred contractor to carry out the detailed design and construction works.

Reasons for the decision

In 2007, as part of the Housing Stock Transfer process, Members resolved that the Council should retain ownership and responsibility for its Sewage Treatment Works (STW) and Pumping Station (PS) assets. This decision ensured that the Council did not forgo a significant proportion of the capital receipt from the housing stock transfer that would have resulted from transferring these assets to Roddons Housing Association.

Members also recognised the ongoing need for investment to maintain operational performance and ensure compliance with Environment Agency requirements. Since that time, the Council has invested approximately £1.8 million in the replacement and upgrading of ageing infrastructure, delivering modern, fit-for-purpose and energy-efficient package sewage treatment works that continue to provide a reliable service for customers and meet regulatory standards.

Alternative options considered

Options to remove the Council’s future liability for the site by transferring incoming flows to the Anglian Water Services (AWS) network were considered during the project feasibility stage.

However, this option was not considered viable, as AWS does not have suitable infrastructure near the site. The cost of constructing the necessary infrastructure and pumping flows to the nearest available connection point was assessed as disproportionate and did not represent value for money.

The existing Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) treatment plant has now reached the end of its operational life and is no longer capable of providing a sustainable long-term solution. Consequently, the asset requires replacement and removal from operational service.