£1.2million to be spent on new bin trucks

Blackburn with Darwen Council is spending £1.2million on buying 16 vehicles as part of its fleet replacement programme for 2025/26.

It is purchasing:

Two refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) for £254,000 each;
one all terrain mower for £37,000;
three trailers for £22,000 in total;
one 7.5 tonne tipper for £85,000;
three five tonne tippers for street cleansing for £60,000 each;
three five tonne tippers for amenities for £62,000 each;
two electric vans for £37,000 each;
one cherry picker vehicle for £108,705.

A report to councillors by Director of Environment & Resident Services Tony Watson says: “The RCV’s will be purchased from Dennis Eagle Limited.

“The five tonne tippers and the electric vans will be purchased from Ciceley Commercials Limited. “The mower and trailers will be purchased from Balmers GM Limited / GGM Group Limited.

“The amount of ride on mowers has been reduced for a more suitable up to date piece of equipment which would deliver the same result as the two ride on mowers.

“This would in turn save on the initial cost and reduce the need to spend on hire.

“The number of trailers being used has been reduced from five to three. The replacement trailers would be capable of dual action for the new equipment needed for the tree team and amenities.

“This again will carry a small saving initially and will remove the need to purchase separate trailers once the additional equipment is authorised.

“The cherry picker vehicle will be procured via direct award from the CCS Portal.

“The cost has increased due to price increases from the suppliers of the equipment and the bespoke requirements we have for the vehicle.

“The 7.5 tonne tipper will be procured via a closed quotation process through The Chest procurement portal with invitations sent to three  local reputable manufacturers.

“The gritting vehicles have had a short-term hire placed against them and are not replaced this year. These will be relooked at in the next financial year.

“The initial purchase of the vehicles will be met from approved capital budget.

“The total replacement cost is £1,200,705.

“After initial purchase, the vehicles are then sold and leased back from a leasing company which subsequently creates revenue spend and means the vehicle costs are covered from revenue budget.

“The annual lease costs have been estimated to be £225,508 per annum. This will result in an estimated increase in lease costs of £176,087.

“The significant uplift in lease costs for replacement vehicles, compared to those procured over six years ago, is driven by a convergence of macroeconomic and industry-specific factors.”