Council looking at option of replacing bin lorries

Replacing the current side-loading bin lorries is being looked at as an option by Horsham District Council.
Acorn Plus bin lorryAcorn Plus bin lorry
Acorn Plus bin lorry

Although the Acorn Plus waste collection scheme was initially controversial and ran massive overspends in its first few years of operation, members of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee described it as a ‘total success’ last week.

However they raised concerns at plans to replace the fleet of side-loading lorries with rear-loaders, which they thought could lead to increased staffing costs if extra crew members were needed to man each vehicle.

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Brian O’Connell (Con, Henfield) said he found the idea of replacing the fleet ‘totally astounding’ especially following a ‘damning report’ that looked at the cost of setting up the scheme. He went on to say he was ‘amazed’ that anyone was even thinking about returning to rear-loading vehicles as he and other councillors described the current scheme as a ‘total success’.

How the County Times reported a damning report into the costs of the Acorn Plus scheme back in February 2012. SUS-150915-094657001How the County Times reported a damning report into the costs of the Acorn Plus scheme back in February 2012. SUS-150915-094657001
How the County Times reported a damning report into the costs of the Acorn Plus scheme back in February 2012. SUS-150915-094657001

Leonard Crosbie (LDem, Trafalgar), chairman of the committee, said: “It’s an evaluation exercise. They [officers] are merely doing sums.”

He explained that members of the Finance and Performance Working Group had asked the cabinet member for waste, recycling and cleansing to the attend their next meeting. They hoped this would provide answers to what the timescale was for replacing the refuse collection fleet.

Michael Willett (Con, Steyning) said: “We heard that we are using equipment which was only available in two countries in Europe, was very expensive and difficult to maintain.”

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Jonathan Dancer (Con, Roffey North) argued that when looking at the financial implications moving forward, they had to regard any previous investment as ‘sunk costs’.

The side-loading arm of an Acorn Plus bin lorryThe side-loading arm of an Acorn Plus bin lorry
The side-loading arm of an Acorn Plus bin lorry

Mr Crosbie added: “It’s a successful scheme from households’ point of view.”

Back in March 2012 a damning report on massive overspends setting up the Acorn Plus waste collection project was published. It criticised a ‘bizarre budgeting approach’ and an ‘unclear’ trail of responsibility. The scheme was championed by Robert Nye leader of the council up to December 2011. Costs for Acorn Plus were £500,000 over budget in 2009/10, £790,000 in 2010/11, and an estimated £279,000 in 2011/12.

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