A £1.2MILLION contract covering landfill across Cumbria will be put out for procurement after the move was approved by senior councillors at a meeting this week.
Members of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils’ joint executive committee met at The Civic Centre in Carlisle on Monday (May 11) to consider the matter.
It was recommended that members authorised the commencement of a procurement for the monitoring and maintenance of the closed landfill sites for the period April 1, 2027, to 31 March 31, 2031, with a total estimated value of approximately £1.2million.
In addition, they were asked to delegate authority to award the resulting contract to senior directors in consultation with the relevant portfolio holders for each council.
Members were told it was part of a ‘replacement contract’ which covered the two councils’ obligations under various laws.
Councillor Lisa Hinton (Currock, Labour), Cumberland Council’s adult social care portfolio holder, moved the recommendations and she was seconded by councillor Jonathan Brook (Kendal South, Lib Dems), Westmorland & Furness Council’s cabinet member for economy, and members agreed.
According to the Closed Landfill Monitoring and Maintenance Contract Procurement report it covers the 35 closed landfill sites for which the two councils have statutory responsibility.
It states: “It is also requested that joint executive committee delegate the award of the closed landfill contract to the director of place and economy (CC) with the agreement of the director of thriving places (WFC) and in consultation with the relevant portfolio holders in each council.”
According to the report all sites are regulated by the Environment Agency and it adds: “The closed landfill sites are risk assessed for any potential impact to human health and the environment, with a number being actively monitored for gas and leachate.”
The report the current contract provides landfill gas, leachate and surface water monitoring, alongside maintenance. It adds: “Maintenance includes ensuring boreholes and pumps are maintained to a reasonable standard, and where the authorities own or lease the sites, ensuring fencing, access roads etc are maintained to a reasonable standard.”
The report states that the current contract has been in place since 2024 and it is due to expire on March 31 next year.
It concludes: “It is essential that the closed landfill sites are managed under a monitoring and maintenance contract to ensure that the authorities meet their permit requirements in accordance with the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.”
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