Contact: Alan Giles, ext 7712 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That approval be given for £100,000 to be spent on improvements to Micheldever Depot, as Hampshire County Council Environment Department contribution to the agreed site improvements required to secure the site as a Foamix production facility and Highways Term Maintenance Contract depot area.

(ii) That approval be given for the management of the Foamix Production area and Highways Term Maintenance Contract depot area to be taken over by the Management Branch of Environment Department to be operated in line with the other County Council highways depots.

(iii) That approval be given for the future rental income from the depot to be offset against any agreed capital investment on the site by the lessees.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following Aims of the Corporate Strategy:

(i) Aim 2 (Stewardship of the Environment) by maximising sustainability within Hampshire by enabling the ongoing production of Foamix or similar material using recycled materials from Hampshire County Council highway maintenance works and waste incinerators; and

(ii) Aim 5 (Improving Services) by enabling maximum and efficient use of Hampshire County Council depot facilities.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Close down facilities: failure to provide adequate facilities to reuse recycled materials from highway maintenance and waste incinerators would not be in accordance with the County Council's policies of sustainability. There would also be the possibility of increased costs in the future of having to find alternative means of disposal of those materials

3.2 Require contractors to increase their funding contribution: the funding contribution from the contractors towards site improvements is a commercial decision based on their assessment of the long term viability of the facilities. The contributions agreed represent a sound arrangement by which the improvements are secured on a shared basis.

3.3 Operational use of the depot without investing in site improvements: the depot has suffered from a lack of capital investment over many years. Failure to provide the necessary improvements is not considered acceptable if the property is to remain in essential operational use.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

9138decn/AG