Content

1.   
Agreed to the purchase of 22 x 17-Seater Minibuses
from Treka Bus Ltd (company registration number 04063157) at a
total cost of £1,833,628.72 in accordance with Contract
Standing Order (CSO) 28.3, with a three (3) year warranty term, and
to start as soon as reasonably practicable.
 
2.   
Agreed to the disposal of 22 vehicles described in
Appendix A of the report in accordance with Financial Procedure 16.
GS Plus will manage disposal through the agreed corporate
process.
 
3.   
Noted that all 22 vehicles are operated by GS Plus
Passenger Services which undertakes transport operations on behalf
of Children’s Services and Adults and Health Services. The
Council owns 17 of the vehicles due for replacement and GS Plus
owns the remaining 5 vehicles. With agreement from Corporate
Finance and GS Plus, all 22 replacement vehicles will be under
Council ownership and form part of the Vehicle Replacement
Programme (VRP).
 
4.   
Noted that this purchase was conducted using The
Procurement Partnership’s (TPPL) Bus and Coach Purchase
framework agreement.
 
5.   
Noted that in line with the Fleet Replacement Plan,
which was agreed by Cabinet on 22nd July 2020, these 22 vehicles
will be replaced with like for like Euro VI diesels, which are
fully compliant with TfL’s Low Emissions Zone (LEZ).
Furthermore, the vehicles will utilise a Hydro-Treated Vegetable
Oil (HVO)/diesel fuel mix, which is a greener alternative to
diesel.
 
6.   
Noted that the Electric Minibus market is in its
infancy and the Birchmere Centre’s electrical capacity,
charging infrastructure and the significant capital cost increase
make purchasing Electric Minibuses untenable for the
Council’s and GS Plus’ Fleet at present. As part of the
Fleet Replacement Plan, consultancy support provided a route map
for a whole fleet electrification plan and its supporting
infrastructure and power requirement, which is forming part of a
larger-scale Birchmere renovation strategy.
 
7.   
Noted that the number of Zero-Tail Pipe-Emission
vehicles have been maximised in other tenders within the Vehicle
Replacement Programme.
 
8.   
Noted that the Fleet & Waste Strategy team has
researched the potential impacts of Brexit on vehicle purchasing.
The industry’s position is clear in that any rise in costs
associated with Brexit would be passed on to the purchaser.
Therefore, additional fees are payable by the Royal Borough in the
event of imposed trading tariffs following Brexit, although this is
unlikely due to the agreed UK-EU trade agreement.