Yahoo News Council to spend £976k on new vehicles
Almost £1m is set to be spent on replacing vehicles used to keep Stafford Borough tidy. Stafford Borough Council is also looking to cut its carbon emissions with the new Streetscene equipment, which will bring electric vehicles into the fleet.
Cabinet members gave the green light to spend £976,609 on vehicle replacement and the installation of two electric vehicle charging points at Riverway Nursery in Stafford. This will include purchasing sweepers and ride-on mowers.
A report to the cabinet meeting said: "The Streetscene service is responsible for essential services across the Borough including emptying and maintaining public litter bins, collecting fly tipping, litter picking, grounds maintenance, street and road sweeping, pest control services and maintenance of parks and open spaces. The vast majority of the fleet are now beyond, or coming to the end of their life span, with many approaching nine years old and some over 10 years old.
READ MORE: 'It's a proper local' - Stoke-on-Trent pub reopens after £123k refurb
READ MORE: Families demand tree-felling ban on Stoke-on-Trent estate
"The age of the items now means that the Streetscene service regularly hires in 5-6 vehicles each month and face increasing repairs and maintenance costs on council-owned fleet. This practice is not sustainable and not cost effective, with budgets in these areas overspent for the 2023/24 financial year.
"Permission to spend will enable the Streetscene service to purchase electric vehicles for the first ever time, contributing to the council’s commitment to fostering a cleaner, healthier environment for residents. The proposed spend will support the biodiversity across the borough by replacing some existing triple mowers with batwing and rotary ride on mowers that are better suited to mowing longer grass areas."
Councillor Ian Fordham, cabinet member for environment, said: "It's essential for us to provide an efficient and effective service for our residents. The majority of the fleet is at the end of its expected life.
"Cannock is proposing a similar proposal for its fleet. All equipment will be dual-branded so it can be utilised by either authority as required."
Councillor Tony Pearce, cabinet member for environment, welcomed the proposal. He said: "Firstly electric vehicles will replace diesel fuel vehicles - in relation to carbon emissions that is a big improvement.
"Also we are requesting mowers which can cut grass which is longer. As part of our mowing and sowing strategy, we want some areas to be left to grow for longer, which enhances biodiversity, which means we need a different type of mower to cut the grass afterwards."
