IESE official launch date set for LGA event

A controversial scheme aimed at saving English councils' money when procuring waste services is to be officially launched at the LGA conference.


The Improvement and Efficiency South East Framework (IESE) is already open for business and so far has appointed nine waste contractors with a further two finalizing contracts. 

The scheme has attracted controversy with some major players – such as Biffa, Kier and Serco – choosing not to join the scheme. Yet it has also attracted big names such as Sita, Veolia and Urbaser. 

IESE chair Cllr Paul Bettison described the scheme as a “groundbreaking” solution for councils. “It is about delivering the same, if not improved services, for less money. Before now, councils have had to approach the waste services market alone meaning that the potential power in their combined £1.7bn spend is lost.” 

Bettison pointed to the IESE construction framework, which has already saved the public sector £63m. 

IESE executive director Alison Templeton told edie: “Bringing together councils from across England, the LGA Conference is the highlight of the local government calendar. Our joint fringe event with District Council’s Network focuses on sector-led procurement excellence and working with markets which both deliver benefits to councils, their suppliers and ultimately residents.” 

A spokesperson for IESE told edie that it would continue to work with those waste management firms – that had decided not to take part in the framework – as part of its wider waste support programme. She added: “It really isn’t a ‘them and us’ culture”. 

Similarly, IESE will consider establishing a similar network for local authorities currently not part of the framework, as well as extending the scheme beyond the four year programme to meet demand. IESE expects to make an announcement “within the next few weeks” about which local authorities will be the first to use the framework to procure waste services. 

The framework will be launched following an IESE and district council network fringe event at the LGA conference on 26 June. A series of events hosted by IESE and participants are being planned to illustrate the scheme’s benefits to local councils. 

IESE is being partly funded by Defra has been supported through its development by Keep Britain Tidy and WRAP.

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