Decision details

The report sets out the findings from a review of the Council’s Vehicle Replacement Programme (VRP) and presents a proposed rolling replacement programme for the next 5-years.  The purpose of the programme is to move to a modern fleet of commercial vehicles to ensure that the Council has a resilient, efficient and cost effective fleet.  

The report sets out a proposed rolling 5-year vehicle replacement programme for the whole vehicle fleet.  The programme aims to move to a modern fleet of commercial vehicles in a considered way, ensuring that the fleet remains resilient, efficient and cost effective.

The Council currently has a fleet of 117 vehicles which provide a wide range of services.  The Council’s fleet is relatively old when compared to other Council fleets.  This can present resilience and cost issues as older vehicles are more likely to have mechanical issues and larger amounts of downtime.

Adopting an invest to save approach, the proposed 5-year rolling programme aims to lower the overall age of the fleet.  This should help to reduce these costs and ensure service resilience as newer vehicles would be less likely to have major issues.

A programme would also aid the Council with the procurement of vehicles as lead times have seen a significant increase in the past 12 months meaning that forward planning is essential for service resilience.

It is recommended that over the next 5-years a total of 57 vehicles; the replacements would be 41 used diesel vehicles and 16 electric vehicles.  The replacement vehiv

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)  the use of a proposed rolling vehicle replacement programme for the next 5-years;

(b)  that the replacement programme, alongside the level of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) use, be updated on a rolling basis each autumn to inform budget setting for the following year and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy;

(c)  an increased general fund capital budget of £584,000 funded from capital reserves, for 2023/24 for the purchase of 11 vehicles (excluding Solent Airport vehicles);

(d)  an increased Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital budget of £94,200 funded from capital reserves for 2023/24 for the purchase of three vehicles; and

(e)  the installation of upgraded electric vehicle infrastructure at the Broadcut Depot site at an estimated cost of £50,000.