In September 2007, a contract notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) inviting companies to tender for a long-term contract to manage the final treatment of York and North Yorkshire's residual household waste.
Prior to this, the councils had worked together to prepare an outline business case which was submitted to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This document reflected the waste management position at that time and was the basis for the successful application for £65million Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits.
The closing date for receipt of the outline solutions was December 2007 and in January 2008 a shortlist of four participating companies was produced. These companies were invited to submit detailed solutions to the councils. Once the solutions had been evaluated, two companies were taken forward. Amey was then selected as the councils' preferred bidder for the contract.
The councils worked closely with Defra and the Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme to progress each stage of the project. Following the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2010, the councils received confirmation the project had retained the provisional allocation of credit support for the project.
Members of City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council agreed to award a contract for the long-term management of waste to Amey in December 2010.
At its meeting on 30 October 2012, our planning and regulatory functions committee considered the report of the corporate director for business and environmental services on Amey's planning application for Allerton Waste Recovery Park. The committee heard representations from the public, local opposition groups and Amey. Members agreed with the report's recommendation and voted to approve the application. View the report from the planning committee meeting.
They also agreed with the report's recommendation that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government should be consulted on the application and the committee's decision. The Secretary of State decided not to hold a public enquiry and the planning decision notice was issued on 14 February 2013.
An application was made for a judicial review of the planning decision. This was refused by the High Court in July 2013. The High Court's decision was then appealed and at a hearing at the Court of Appeal in London on 15 October 2013, the appeal was also refused.
Amey was granted an environmental permit from the Environment Agency in July 2013 and the judicial review period expired without challenge in October 2013.
On 21 February 2013, Defra withdrew £65million PFI credits allocation, however, the council worked with Amey to finalise funding for the project and financial close took place on 30 October 2014.
The Freedom of Information Act (2000) gives a general right of access to all types of 'recorded' information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions by which information may be withheld and places a number of obligations on public authorities. The councils have previously published information about the project and will continue to publish as much information as possible including contract documents (marginally redacted to protect commercially confidential information).
A redacted version of the Waste PPP Contract can be requested if you contact us.
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