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PR contract for £570,000 will go ahead after probe
Questions over Westminster’s marketing deal for the Isle of Wight
A PROBE into the award of a £570,000 communications contract to Westminster Council has cleared the authority of wrongdoing.
An investigation launched by opposition councillors in the Isle of Wight who feared there had been skulduggery in the awarding of the contract to Westminster, concluded it had acted according to the correct procedures.
They had sought assurances that the contract – one of four public relations contracts held by Westminster Council – was not won by underhand means.
Headed by an independent East Cowes councillor Muriel Miller, the scrutiny committee said there was a lack of transparency after the contract was awarded by the Tory-controlled Isle of Wight council without being put before a meeting.
A statement issued by the councillors leading the investigation said: “The tenders were evaluated by a panel of three officers and only one of these had been trained in the revised procurement process.
“The committee would like an assurance none of the officers concerned in the drafting of the contract specification, subsequent consideration of the award of the contract or the award of any of the previous contracts had been in receipt of gifts or hospitality from Westminster City Council.”
The probe came less than six months after the Isle of Wight council’s deputy chief executive John Lawson was sacked and seven council officers were suspended, in an unrelated case, after illegally awarding an £18 million road repair contract.
Westminster originally won the contract to provide senior communications management, marketing, government relations and consultation for the Isle of Wight in 2006 for £222,000.
It also oversees PR for Sutton, Richmond and Harrow councils, bringing in £1.3 million annually.
The council had denied any wrongdoing in bidding for the contract. A spokesperson for Westminster said: “We are confident that all of the correct procedures and processes have been followed. We pride ourselves on being an award-winning communications department, one of the best public sector teams in the UK, and we are absolutely committed to raising the profile of the Isle of Wight.
“This is a challenging job but through our skills, knowledge and expertise, we are confident that this will be a positive relationship as we promote the many great tourist attractions the Isle of Wight has to offer.”
Isle of Wight director of finance David Burbage said: “The committee heard that the contract for external communications, consultation and government relations support had been let in accordance with all necessary legal, procurement, policy and budgeting processes. The contract will now be formally awarded to Westminster City Council.” |
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