The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report seeking approval to enter into and award a new contract for fuel supplies.

The report noted that the Council currently spent in the region of £450k per year on liquid fuel supplies to support the corporate fleet for the provision of services.  The majority of fuel was procured centrally through a framework agreement managed by Crown Commercial Services (CCS) reducing risks and ensuring lowest price, and the report sought permission to enter into a new framework agreement with CCS in March 2022 to ensure best possible cost and supply was maintained. 

The report explained that under the CCS framework the Council was not committed to purchasing a minimum amount of fuel, with a flexible contract that enabled the Council to reduce the amount of fuel procured as it moved to an electric fleet and electric heating.  Fuel and oil consumption had been reduced by 31% since 2019 as a result of the programme to replace fuel powered vehicles with electric vehicles and ending the use of oil to fuel heating in buildings. 

Resolved –

(1)      That the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Assistant Director of Property & Asset Management and the Assistant Director of Procurement, be authorised to enter into and award the recommended fuel supply contracts for diesel petrol and gas oil for the period 31 March 2022 to 31 March 2025, through the Crown Commercial Services framework RM6177 Liquid Fuels;

(2)      That the development of targets and policies to reduce the use of fossil fuels for powering vehicles in the Council’s operations be endorsed.