Repairs calls are rejected

Nov 14 2008 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Friday

CALLS to change the way housing repairs are carried out have been rejected by Stirling Council’s SNP administration.

Labour councillors claimed the quick response from local tradesmen was being abandoned in favour of a “centralised and bureaucratic” process.

And they added the new arrangement would see more delays in having work carried out for frail and elderly residents in Stirling.

However, the SNP councillors say they are only responding to auditors’ recommendations and rejected Labour’s calls for a u-turn at a recent meeting.

Housing portfolio holder Councillor Alistair MacPherson said: “The changes to the procurement of work for the Care and Repair scheme have been introduced following a recommendation from Internal Audit.

“Previously work was ‘spot purchased’ from a limited number of local firms directly by the care and repair officer. The total value of the work has varied year to year but is typically more than £90,000.

“Procurement rules make it clear that at this level the overall programme should be subject to formal competitive tendering.

“The recommendation was as follows: ‘The process for the selection of contractors should be revised to ensure it meets the contract standing orders requirements and procurement best practice’.

“The priority rating for this recommendation was ‘high’.

“The specific risk to the council from this approach was described as: ‘the process for the selection of contractors would not meet procurement best practice and could be considered anti-competitive. This could result in legal challenge and allegations of favouritism that could be difficult to disprove’.

“In particular, whilst a small number of contractors regularly benefited from the placement of work through the scheme, many other local contractors were not getting an opportunity to bid for, or be considered for, the work.

“The changes in the procurement arrangements were made in response to this advice. Whilst it is the case that a small number of firms now have to face the prospect of competing for the work, that work will be available to a much wider range of providers through the full re-entering of our sub contracting arrangements during 2009.

“Any local company looking for assistance in tendering for the work when the opportunity arises should contact the council’s economic development team, who will provide all the help they can.

“Given the risk to the council it would not be appropriate to revert to the previous arrangements.”

Labour, however, accused the SNP of “hiding behind” the audit report.

Councillor John Hendry said: “The SNP administration has written to various local contractors to say they reaffirmed their position to immediately obtain work from a Glasgow contractor and have refused our calls to review the procurement process to protect local jobs.

“It is astonishing in the current economic climate that SNP councillors unilaterally dismiss local firms who have provided an excellent service over many years.

“The SNP have shown by their negative response they have little or no regard of the consequences for these small businesses.

“This is another example of lack of local consultation that could lead to more problems for the SNP with their claims that ‘Stirling is open for business’ – especially if those businesses are from every other part of the country and excludes local companies.

“It is time they acted upon some of their pronouncements since taking control of the council and I urge them to reconsider the future arrangements and allow local companies to benefit from the millions of pounds of work put out to tender by Stirling Council.”