Document Depot Options Appraisal

The Committee was asked to consider four options for the future refurbishment of the Council’s depot. 

Officers advised the Committee that having considered all the relevant factors the preferred option was to refurbish the building opposite the Depot to accommodate staff who delivered the Depot’s key administrative functions.  Additionally, a modular building would be installed on the existing Depot site to provide welfare facilities for operational staff.

The asset known as the Ford Road Depot was a council owned site delivering statutory waste provisions.  At present, 19 Environmental Services staff worked from the main depot offices, with 3 Community Services staff working from an adjoining annex.   This was in addition to the 26 collection operatives and 22 street care operatives who worked out of the site.

Over the years, the depot has evolved to deliver other services for the borough.  The services presently delivered from the site included waste and recycling collection, vehicle maintenance, street cleansing, grounds maintenance, and fleet management.  Community transport was also based on the site, as was meals at home, plus storage for various other teams including CCTV and elections.  A new fuel management system was installed in April 2024 and the fuel tank cleaned and refurbished.  The tank was currently used to store and supply HVO fuel for the Council’s fleet.

In June 2022, a report was taken to the Corporate Management Committee to release a capital estimate for the procurement of the works contract for the commencement of refurbishment and upgrade of the Ford Road Depot prior to grounds maintenance and green spaces services being relocated and delivered in-house.

Following a procurement exercise a comprehensive feasibility study took place.  The surveys took longer than anticipated due to their complexity and the need for specialised professional services, as well as consultations with key staff.  The survey results confirmed that the building had exceeded its economical lifespan and lacked the capacity to be future proofed to meet carbon net zero goals.

The four options considered were:

Option 1:  Move administrative employees to the nearby former St. John Ambulance Site,
                 Ford Road, Chertsey and provide fit for purpose modular buildings on the existing
                 site to accommodate welfare facilities for operational employees, to include
                 WC’s, showers, and canteen area.

While the surveys were being undertaken by external consultants, the Council was advised by their tenants, St. John’s Ambulance, who were in the building opposite the Depot, that they no longer required the building. Noting that the surveys had revealed the Depot office space and welfare facilities were at end of life, Officers considered this to be an opportunity for this asset to provide a possible location for the main offices of the depot.  Appropriate surveys of the St. John’s Ambulance building identified that the building could be used for office purposes but was not sufficient to house all the welfare requirements of the service currently based at the Depot.  In order to address this, it was proposed that a small modular building is located on the existing site, with office-based employees being relocated to the property St. Johns Ambulance vacated.

It was noted that limited interest had been shown for occupation of the site vacated by St. Johns Ambulance with most interest coming from charitable organisations seeking peppercorn rents.

By moving office-based staff into the site vacated by St. Johns Ambulance it would bring new life to the building, update it and address issues that would have to be resolved even if the Council sought to re-let it as a commercial asset. 

Option 2:  2 x Modular Buildings on existing site

The modular buildings would be leased for a 5-year period to give the Council flexibility.  It was proposed that modular buildings would be stacked and placed on the former scout hut site with expansion, if so required.  The provision of modular buildings for employees who remained at the depot throughout the working day, had been carefully considered.  Whilst Option 2 required a reduced capital outlay this was not preferred by existing staff who worked at the depot.

Option 3:  Complete Refurbishment

Option 3 was a high-cost option at a time when the Council was focused on achieving efficiencies and savings, and may not, therefore, be compatible with the existing Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Option 4: Demolition and Rebuild

In alignment with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy approved by Full Council in October, this option was not financially viable in the short or medium term.

The Committee was supportive of Option 1.  

Resolved that:

The Committee approve Option 1 for the works at the depot.

The Committee request that Corporate Management Committee approve the capital estimate required to deliver the essential maintenance works vital to the day-to-day operation of the Depot site, including (replacement of fences, landscaping, partial resurfacing, CCTV and external lighting, repairs to external drainage, repairs to retaining wall)

Once referred, the Corporate Management Committee;

Consider whether it wishes to recommend to the Council the approval of the capital estimate required to deliver the Environment and Sustainability Committee’s preferred option.

Once referred, the Council considers and agrees;

Whether it wishes to approve the Environmental and Sustainability Committee’s preferred option for the Depot works.

Whether it wishes to approve the capital estimate required to deliver the Depot works (following consideration or the recommendation of the Corporate Management Committee)