City of Westminster
Decision maker
Date
Title of Report
CABINET MEMBER
FOR ENVIRONMENT
AND LEISURE
22
February
2002
PURCHASE OF STREET CLEANSING
EQUIPMENT
CLASSIFICATION
For General Release
Report of
Director of Environment and Leisure
Wards Involved
All wards
Policy Context
The proposed purchase of two Aquazura cleansing
machines is in line with the Environment and Leisure
Performance Plan to make Westminster the most attractive
City and the Civic Renewal priority of Clean Streets.
Financial Summary
The report proposes purchasing two Aquazura cleansing
machines at an estimated total cost of £150,000 to be
funded from within the capital programme provision
originally earmarked for the purchase of replacement glass
recycling vehicles.
1.
Summary
1.1
During the course of the Best Value Review of the cleansing services the
issue of staining on footways and paved areas was raised by the various
groups consulted and by members of the former Environment and Leisure
Committee. In addition on 21 January 2002 Cabinet approved for
consultation a Draft Action Plan for Leicester Square that proposes a
rolling programme of improvements for the West End. These will begin
with a concerted effort in and around Leicester Square and include
enhancements to the current level of cleansing service.
1.2
In the context of the Best Value comments and the proposed Leicester
Square Action Plan a review has been carried out of the existing street
washing equipment and the options available for improving performance.
1.3
Currently all street washing in this part of the City is carried out by either
two Hotwash vehicles or a Powerboss scrubber owned by Onyx. Recently
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a new machine has been developed by the Euromec company – the
Aquazura. It is claimed to be the first machine of its type and combines
two cleaning principles scrubbing and suction
1.4
An Aquazura vacuum scrubber capable of coping with multiple surfaces
has been tested in Chinatown, Leicester Square and Covent Garden and
achieved significantly higher standards of performance than either the
Hotwash vehicles owned by the City Council or the Powerboss scrubber
used by Onyx.
1.5
Approval is therefore sought to purchase two Aquazura machines at a
cost of £150,000. The purchase can be funded from within the existing
approved capital programme for 2001/2002.
2.
Recommendation
2.1
That approval be given for the purchase of 2 Aquazura street cleansing
machines at an estimated capital cost of £150,000.
3.
Background Information
3.1
In 1997 the City Council purchased two Hotwash machines to try to cope
with the increasing problems of grease staining on the footway. Whilst the
machines have proved effective, there have been ongoing mechanical
problems due to the hybrid nature of the actual machines and it has not
been possible to work them to their full potential. The vehicles are also
reaching the end of their operational lives and there is a need to look for
some form of replacement for the remaining life of the existing street
cleansing contract and into the first years of the next contract. The
Hotwash machines themselves are no longer in production. In 1999 the
service was expanded with the provision of two further units provided by
Onyx.
3.2
The Best Value work on the new Contract has highlighted that concerns
about grease and other sorts of staining are now even more important.
Street cleansing is one of the five elements of the Civic Renewal
Programme having been identified as one of the three most important
issues for key stakeholders. The recently approved Draft Action Plan also
identifies the need to improve the quality of street cleaning in the Leicester
Square area. The Environment & Leisure Committee’s agreed capital
programme for 2001/02 includes provision of £250,000 for two vehicles to
replace the existing side loading glass collection vehicles that were
purchased by the City Council in 1994 and which are due for replacement.
In light of the revised vehicle strategy for the next cleansing contract, it
has been decided not to replace the vehicles now, but to include them as
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part of the new contractors’ vehicle fleet requirements to meet the new
contract specification.
3.3
In light of this change, approval is sought to use some of the approved
capital funding for the purchase of 2 Aquazura vacuum scrubbers.
4.
Detail
4.1
Two trials of an Aquazura on Leicester Square, and in Gerrard Street and
Covent Garden took place in September and these were compared
against the performance of the existing City Council and Onyx-owned
equipment. On both occasions the Aquazura out-performed both the
Hotwash and Powerboss machines. In addition to the scrubbing, the
Aquazura vacuums up the surplus dirty water and recycles it. The
advantage of this in Chinatown in particular was that because of the
power of the suction system, squeegee and vacuum, it was able to suck
up the greasy water and large bits of litter at the same time leaving the
surface clean, dry and free of grease. The Aquazura also has 5
independent rotating brush heads through which variable pressure can be
exerted that improve the overall performance.
4.2
It is proposed that the existing two Hotwash machines be taken off the
front line service and used as ‘spares’ for the two Onyx units which would
improve the reliability of this service.
4.3
The revenue costs of running two Aquazuras would be met almost in full
by the savings on revenue costs from the two City Council owned
Hotwash vehicles.
4.4
The vehicles would replace the two existing Hotwash machines and
because of their versatility a higher level of productivity is anticipated as
well as higher quality results. One of the Aquazuras would be based at
the Newport Place depot and be dedicated to Leicester Square,
Chinatown and Covent Garden areas. The other unit would cover northern
areas of the City (e.g. Edgware Road, parts of Marylebone and
Bayswater) where grease staining is problematic, and elsewhere.
4.5
5.
At the end of the current street cleaning contract, the vehicles would be
passed to the new contractors for use on the future contract. The new
contractors would be responsible for replacing the existing Aquazura
machines within the life of the new contract.
Financial Implications
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5.1
The report seeks capital approval for £150,000 for the purchase of 2
Aquazura street cleansing vehicles to be met from the capital programme
provision of £250,000 originally earmarked for glass recycling vehicles.
This would leave £100,000 and officers will be looking at alternative
schemes to utilise the remaining provision.
5.2
Whilst some of the revenue costs for operating these vehicles can be
found by transferring fuel, tax and insurance from the two existing
Hotwash machines, there will be additional costs of approximately
£14,000 a year for servicing and replacement of consumable items:
brushes, detergent and squeegees. These additional costs can be found
from within the existing cleansing contract budget. The maintenance will
be carried out under an agreement with the supplier of the vehicles,
Euromec, and the cleansing contractor will be responsible for ensuring
that the proper maintenance regime is adhered to. The machines are
being purchased on the basis that they will have a 5 year life,
replacement will be costed into the new cleansing and collection contract
to be awarded in April 2003.
The machines provide a unique service . There is no other mechanical
street cleaning equipment currently on the market which comes close to
the specification of the Aquazura. It is promoted by the manufacturer as
combining two cleaning principles; sucking and scrubbing, it also has a
more beneficial impact on the environment than other cleaning machines
as it collects the waste water used in the cleaning process. These claims
have been confirmed as valid by Cleansing Client team officers through
field testing of the Aquazura in Westminster on those streets most
severely affected by grease and other staining.
In the light of this it is not possible to enter into a tendering process as
there is only one company offering a product of this nature.
5.3
The revenue implications arising from the proposed capital expenditure
of £150,000, assuming an asset life of 5 years, over the next 4 years
are as follows;
Capital charges
Vehicle running
costs (additional
over current costs)
Total
5.4
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
£
9,400
£
37,700
£
36,200
£
34,600
£
33,100
2,500
14,000
14,000
14,000
14,000
11,900
51,700
50,200
50,600
50,100
As stated in para 5.2 above the estimated additional vehicle running costs
of £14,000 per annum can be contained within approved revenue
budgets.
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6.
Legal Implications
6.1
There are no legal implications arising from issues raised in the report.
7.
Staffing Implications
7.1
There are no staffing implications arising directly from this report
8.
Outstanding Issues
8.1
There are no issues outstanding from these proposals
9.
Performance Plan Implications
9.1
The purchase of these two ‘high-tech’ pavement cleaners would be in line
with the Clean Streets theme of the Civic Renewal programme as set out
in the 2001/02 Performance Plan.
10.
Consultation
10.1
As this report relates to all wards, no ward member consultation was
required.
11.
Crime and Disorder Act
11.1
12.
12.1
Fear of crime is linked to the state of the environment. The Aquazura
cleansing vehicles should improve the overall standard of cleansing in
key areas of the West End and help engender a safer environment.
Health and Safety Issues
Operatives who would be driving the vehicles will be trained to use them
by the equipment suppliers.
13.
Co-operation with Health Authorities
13.1
There are no implications for Health Authorities arising from this report.
14.
Human Rights Act 1998
14.1
There are no Human Rights Act implications arising from this report.
15.
Conclusions and reasons for the proposed decision
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15.1
The City Council has a programme of area based improvements in and
around Leicester Square. The Best Value review of cleansing services
gave prominence to the quality of street cleansing. In the light of these
considerations it is proposed to purchase two Aquazura vacuum scrubber
street cleansing vehicles.in order to enhance the current level of cleansing
in the City. The capital cost of the machines can be met from savings in
the capital programme for 2001/02002. It is considered that the vehicles
represent good value for money. They will replace the two existing
Hotwash machines and because of their versatility a higher level of
productivity is anticipated as well as higher quality results. The Aquazuras
will be providing an enhanced street cleaning service that will deal directly
with a problem, grease staining, that has not been addressed by the
current equipment.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES ABOUT THIS REPORT OR WISH TO INSPECT
ANY OF THE BACKGROUND PAPERS, PLEASE CONTACT MICHAEL
BEGLEY ON 020 7641 3339; EMAIL ADDRESS mbegley@westminster.gov.uk;
FAX NUMBER 020 7641 2644
BACKGROUND PAPERS
The Documents referred to in compiling this report are:
1. Leicester Square report of the Director of Planning and Transportation to
Cabinet 21 January 2002
2. Best Value review of cleansing services
3. Capital programme for 2001/2002
………………………………………………………………………………………………
For completion by Cabinet Member

Declaration of Interest
I have no interest to declare in respect of this report
…………………………………… Signed ……………………………. Date
I have to declare an interest
State nature of interest
……..……………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………Signed ……………………………. Date
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(N.B: If you have an interest you should seek advice as to whether it is
appropriate to make a decision in relation to this matter.)
For the reasons set out above, I agree the recommendation(s) in the report and
reject any alternative options which are referred to but not recommended.
Signed ………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for ……………………………….
Date …………………………………………………
NOTE: If you do not wish to approve the recommendations, or wish to make an
alternative decision, it is important that you consult the report author, the Director
of Legal and Administrative Services, the Director of Finance and, if there are
staffing implications, the Head of Personnel (or their representatives) so that (1)
you can be made aware of any further relevant considerations that you should
take into account before making the decision and (2) your reasons for the
decision can be properly identified and recorded, as required by law.
Note to Cabinet Member: The decision will now be published and copied to
the Members of the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee and may not
be implemented until five working days have elapsed from publication to
allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to decide whether it wishes to
call it in.
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