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Local Authority Funding

Procurement

A common complaint from local authorities and the waste industry in general is that the cost and length of the procurement period for waste PFI contracts is too prohibitive. These complaints are not unique to waste PFI and indeed are a common issue to PFI in general. However they are important concerns which Defra has been taking steps to tackle.

A key new policy and action arising out of the Waste Strategy for England 2007 is seeking to improve procurement and investment by local authorities through comprehensive support and strengthened central and regional coordination by the Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme (WIDP) (a WIP-led unit) to obtain cost-effective and timely delivery of the major infrastructure required.  WIDP aims to ensure:

  • where local authorities procure infrastructure directly, they have access to high quality, dedicated support from a team of experienced transactors able to advise local authorities throughout the complex process of procuring major infrastructure; for example on technology choice, funding mechanisms, procurement processes and contract negotiations;
  • the flow of large transactions is handled in an orderly fashion, so that procurement takes place in as competitive an environment as possible; and,
  • the scale of procurement of residual waste infrastructure takes account of changes in expected waste arisings and recycling levels while ensuring that meeting England’s share of Landfill Directive targets can be safely assured.

Integral to WIDP’s objective of accelerating the delivery of residual waste infrastructure is a comprehensive package of guidance relating to the delivery of waste PFI projects. Such comprehensive package of guidance includes development of planning guidance (published in August 2007) and the development of the WIDP residual waste procurement pack.

The WIDP residual waste procurement pack will comprise a number of modules covering various aspects of the procurement process including technology and financial options appraisal, project governance and contractual issues.

Further information

Page last modified: 24 January 2008
Page published: 5 February 2003

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs