Issue - meetings

To describe the work of officers in developing a framework for the measurement and monitoring of the outcomes from the re3 waste PFI contract.

The Board considered a report supported by a more detailed presentation describing the work of officers in developing a framework for the measurement and monitoring of the outcomes from the re3 waste PFI contract.  This would assist in ensuring that the outcomes of the business case were actually achieved.  It was also intended to help place emerging factors and influences in a strategic context.

The status of 10 outcomes, described as Project Objectives, had been identified from the Final Business Case for the re3 waste PFI contract.  In some cases, the ultimate achievement could only finally be assessed in year 25 of the contract while, in others, there were clear interim targets.

The Board noted that there were two objectives for which suitable measurement criteria were required.  These were Project Objective 5 relating to the ongoing value for money of the contract and Project Objective 6.  Officers wanted to be able to update the existing value for money comparators, but to do this, the councils might need to engage the services of financial advisors. It was proposed that this should only be done if existing budgetary resources allowed and members approved.  Officers were in the early stages of liaising with colleagues at other similar projects in order to create a small number of indicators which would help the re3 councils to compare their PFI contract against others. This liaison also provided an opportunity for sharing information and experiences of contract management.

Amongst the points made during the ensuing discussion were that:

·                     The three councils would like to receive borough-specific data as well as the overall picture.

·                     An easily updateable model would be preferred.

The Board welcomed the approach proposed which also indicated that the contract was offering good value for money.

RESOLVED that

1          The contents of the Annual Financial Statement be noted;

2          Further work be undertaken in respect of Project Objective 5, subject to resources being available; and,

3          A summarised update of the monitoring report be presented at each Joint Waste Disposal Board with a more detailed report at each AGM.