BRIDGEND council has agreed to a one-year extension for a joint vehicle maintenance facility at Brackla Industrial Estate which they currently share with South Wales Police.
The site, known as Ty Richard Thomas in Newlands Avenue, has been used by the two organisations since 2015 with a number of “financial and non-financial benefits” said to have been seen as a result.
The facility is currently used to repair both council and police vehicles such as vans, cars, minibuses, and road sweepers as well as a range of other plant and equipment.
It is also needed for the council to carry out its operator licence responsibilities along with MOT testing services for private hire vehicles and taxis.
However with a 10-year agreement set to come to an end in March 2025 both parties have agreed to a year-long extension while they carry out a review they say is needed to “determine future needs for both partners”.
This is largely because of changes in the vehicle types used, specifically the transition to electric-powered vehicles, as well as the planned introduction of an in-house waste service by Bridgend council which could potentially alter the maintenance spaces required.
Additionally there have also been concerns around costs associated with the facility, which is expected to break even financially, with recent losses said to be as a result of a reliance on more expensive agency staff due to difficulties in recruiting heavy goods vehicle technicians.
The report read: “Both parties agreed that whilst the existing arrangements are mutually beneficial and would continue to be so for at least another year a review would be needed to determine future needs for both partners and a view taken on the best approach going forward.”
