Key information
Decision type: Assistant Director
Reference code: ADD2303
Date signed:
Decision by: Patrick Feehily, Assistant Director, Environment
Executive summary
Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd have developed a tool for London boroughs to model the performance of their waste management activities against the EPS and a carbon intensity ‘floor’ (CIF). The tool is called the Ready Reckoner and acts as a greenhouse gas calculator. The Ready Reckoner allows the user to:
• Compare the current carbon impact of waste management against targets set in the EPS;
• Compare current residual treatment against the CIF target; and
• Test and model the impact of different interventions which will help to meet the EPS and CIF and develop effective recycling plans and waste strategies.
The tool is complex and hands on training is required to support Local Authorities (LAs) to improve their understanding of the tool and in how to use it.
This ADD seeks approval for consultancy services to provide (EPS) Ready Reckoner training, support and further development to LAs and to collect feedback from the users and implement changes to make the tool easier to use for reporting on EPS performance.
Decision
1. Up to £15,000 to procure consultancy services to provide training sessions to Local Authorities (LAs) on how to use the tool (EPS Ready Reckoner), collect feedback from the users and implement changes to make the tool easier to use for reporting on EPS performance; and
2. a related exemption from requirement of the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code to procure such services competitively and to commission the above services from Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd without procuring competitively.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance standard (EPS) forms a core element under the waste chapter of the Mayor of London’s new London Environment Strategy (LES) and supporting the ambition for London to be a zero carbon city by 2050.
Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd have developed a tool for London boroughs to model their performance against the EPS and a carbon intensity ‘floor’ (CIF ). The tool is called the Ready Reckoner and acts as a greenhouse gas calculator.
The London Environment Strategy requires local authorities to produce a Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) setting out measures they will undertake to cut waste, increase recycling, and reduce the climate change impact of their waste activities, making an effective contribution to the Mayor’s 65 per cent municipal waste recycling target by 2030. The GLA has worked with Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd to develop a revised Ready Reckoner tool in line with the revised EPS methodology to allow local authorities to use the tool to model their EPS performance for inclusion in the RRP.
The training sessions will upskill waste officers in each local authority, to ensure that the Ready Reckoner is used correctly. This will include a repeat workshop and/or a webinar to provide access to training for those who are unable to attend workshops in person. It is also the Authority’s experience that the ability to call and request help when problems arise using the tool can be valuable to users and help keep momentum going, so the services will include a phone support package.
Officers acknowledge that section 9 of the GLA’s Contract and Funding Code require, where the expected value of contract for services is between £10,000 and £150,000, that such services be procured completely or called off from an accessible framework. Section 10 provides however, that an exemption from this requirement may be approved where the proposed contractor has had previous involvement in the project or is to continue existing work which cannot be separated from the new project/work.
Officers propose that Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd are contracted to undertake the training for Local authorities as it represents work that cannot be separated from the recent service they provided. Appointing Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd to deliver the training sessions ensures consistency benefits as they developed the Ready Reckoner tool. They have the knowledge and unique ability to provide compatibility with an existing service and is therefore the only supplier able to provide training to local authorities. Taking these into account it is deemed that this approach represents value for money, demonstrating an effective use of time and resources instead of procuring different contractors, and reflects that the technical knowledge and expertise required is not available in house. Approval of an exemption from the requirements of section 10 of the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code is therefore sought on that basis.
The total cost to the GLA will be up to £15,000.
The objective of this project is to provide at least two training sessions for Local Authority waste officers. This project will deliver:
- Updates to the EPS Ready Reckoner and User Guide, incorporating feedback from borough training sessions to help officers better understand and determine performance of the Local Authority waste management options against the EPS and CIF when developing new services and waste contract specifications (e.g. Setting up an EPS and CIF KPI);
- A review and improvements to the guidance on how to best meet the Mayor’s weight-based recycling targets and the EPS – i.e. what to practically focus on in specific situations (for example when providing services to high density vs low density housing, which materials to best focus on and how to drive up performance in a cost-effective way); and
- A user guide to assist developers and/or the waste industry to model performance of waste management options against the CIF.
The two training sessions with boroughs on the Ready Reckoner will be undertaken in February/ March 2019.
As public authorities, the Mayor and the GLA must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Protected characteristics under the Equality Act comprise age, disability, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status.
This training for Local Authorities is a policy commitment set out in the London Environment Strategy. The Strategy has been consulted on publicly and sought input from all groups and communities. All responses to those consultations have been analysed to help ensure the final document reflects their diverse views and needs. 85 per cent of public responses to two surveys supported the Mayor’s measures to set a consistent level of recycling service including separate food waste service. Known as the Mayor’s minimum level of household waste recycling, effective implementation of this minimum service by every borough will play a fundamental role in boosting recycling performance and avoiding significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions from sending waste sent to landfill or incineration.
Consequently, the activities described in this ADD will benefit all London waste authorities taking positive action to reduce the climate change impact of their waste activities, helping London to become a cleaner and greener city and work towards the Mayor’s ambition for London to be a aero waste and zero carbon city by 2050 .This work will further support the evidence base of policies in the Environment Strategy and support the Mayor’s leadership role in helping to cut waste and boost recycling to reduce the environmental impact of its waste management.
Assistant Director’s approval is sought to spend up to £15,000 to procure Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd to provide training sessions to Local Authorities (LAs) on how to use the EPS Ready Reckoner tool, collect feedback from the users and implement changes to make the tool easier to use for reporting on EPS performance. This is to be funded from Environment Team’s 2018-19 Waste Programme budget.
The foregoing sections of this report indicate that:
- The decisions requested of the Assistant Director fall within the powers of the GLA, to do anything which may be considered to be facilitative of or conducive or incidental to the exercise of its functions in a way which promote the improvement of the environment in Greater London; and
- In formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:
(a) Pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
(b) Consider how the proposals will promote the health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and
(c) Consult with appropriate bodies.
Section 9 of the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code (“Code”) requires that a tender exercise be conducted for services with values of that proposed or that they be called off from and accessible framework. However, section 10 of the Code provides that exemptions from that requirement may be approved by the Assistant Director where a specific ground for exemption applies. One of those grounds is that the supplier is unique in its ability to provide compatibility with an existing service. Officers have indicated at paragraph 1.5 that this ground applies. Officers must satisfy themselves that this contract offers value for money. Therefore, if the Assistant Director is satisfied with the content of this report and the grounds for exemption outlined they may approve the exemption sought. If so approved officers must ensure that appropriate contract documentation is put in place between and executed by the GLA and Eunomia Research and Consulting Ltd before any commitment is made to the commencement of such services.
In taking the decisions requested, the Assistant Director must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment) and persons who do not (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Assistant Director should have particular regard to section 3 (above) of this report.
Signed decision document
ADD2303 EPS Ready Reckoner training, support and further development