Chris Ames 06 May 2022

Council blocks scrutiny over bizarre £7m contract roll-over

Council blocks scrutiny over bizarre £7m contract roll-over image
Image: Pack-Shot / Shutterstock.com.

Greenwich Council has refused to disclose why it has handed out a £7m contract without a competitive tender and has blocked scrutiny of the move.

In a formal notice, the authority cited ‘unforeseen circumstances’ behind its decision to roll over its highways term maintenance contract with JB Riney for a further year.

However, Greenwich refused to say what those circumstances were. Highways understands that the council has also blocked the decision from being 'called in' by the relevant scrutiny committee.

The local authority has published a Voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice disclosing the award of the contract to JB Riney for 12 months under a process described as ‘negotiated without a prior call for competition’.

It said this reflected ‘extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority’.

By way of explanation, the VEAT notice stated that its highways maintenance term contract was competitively tendered for and ended on 31st March 2022, but that due to ‘unforeseen events that occurred prior to the end of the contract, a competitive tender exercise could not be organised’.

It added that the short-term contract is required in order for the council to have a highways term contractor in place to fulfil its statutory duties under the Highways Act 1980 and to allow for a new competitive tender exercise to be organised.

It adds: ‘The new procurement exercise to replace this current contract awarded under this VEAT will be launched this year.’

The council awarded the previous contract to Riney in 2013, when it was set to commence in April 2014 and run for five years with three possible extensions of a year at a time.

This article originally appeared on Highways.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Residential Assistant

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £25395.00 per annum
Residential AssistantPermanent, Full Time£25,081 up to £25,395 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Planning Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Durham County Council is looking for experienced and knowledgeable Senior Planning Officers to join our vibrant Development Management team. Our team Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Head of Service – Social Care

Wrexham County Borough Council
G15 £63,148 - £67,058 per annum
There is an exciting opportunity within Children Social Care to join the senior management team Wrexham (Wrecsam)
Recuriter: Wrexham County Borough Council

Head of Service Social Work & Specialist Support

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Grade M scp 60 £72,118 - scp 64 £77,293
There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. Blackburn, Lancashire
Recuriter: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Cafe Assistant - Weald Country Park

Essex County Council
Up to £13.3000 per hour
Café Assistant (Weald Country Park)Contract
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner