TheLodger
Well-known member
It seems Mayor Houchen only gives out contracts to local companies on condition that they or someone involved with them are handing him political donations.
Tricky area this.
Are you giving contracts to companies because they give you donations, or are you giving contracts to companies because you know them, trust them to do a good job and those companies give a donation as a thank you, or even because they genuinely think the mayor is the best for the region?
And does it even matter if both deliver for the public?
When I worked in local government jobs over a certain amount had to go to 3 quotes, and for a higher amount it was the full tender process. All these levels were much, much lower than the reported levels these jobs were given out without any competition. It's noteworthy that you don't have to accept the lowest quote if there's a good reason not to, so if they're the best for the job and best value for money why didn't they go to tender? Nothing to fear, surely?
I agree they should go to tender if it is public money, but the phrase 'appears to have been awarded without a tendering process' suggests this is speculation imo.
you could convince me to agree with you on a good day, but this is part 3 of the same stuff, with, I'm told many more parts to come.Tricky area this.
Are you giving contracts to companies because they give you donations, or are you giving contracts to companies because you know them, trust them to do a good job and those companies give a donation as a thank you, or even because they genuinely think the mayor is the best for the region?
And does it even matter if both deliver for the public?
Giving a "thank you" to a politician is in itself a very dubious thing to do - does the manager of the local Sainsbury's give you a tenner now and again to thank you for doing your weekly shopping there ?
I don't know about sainsbury's but Morrisons and Lidl often give me vouchers as a thank you for shopping there.