PRESS RELEASE:

Councillor Mark Wilkes, County Councillor  for Framwellgate Moor Division on Durham County Council  has forced an internal investigation into the Park and Ride Tender due to his serious concerns about the tender process.

Councillor Wilkes commented: “On Wednesday I called a meeting of the Head of Department and the Council’s legal monitoring officer to discuss these concerns.

“The Council’s specialist procurement solicitor is now looking into the way in which the entire process was carried out and I have been told that this exercise should be completed by the end of next week.”

Following a high profile campaign by Durham Lib Dems against the decision, there has been much public outrage at the Council’s awarding of the contract to Arriva despite two other companies, including Scarlet Band, tendering lower bids.

Claims from the County Council that Arriva was awarded the contract based on the energy efficiency of their proposed buses have been dismissed by Scarlet Band who proposed using the exact same buses had they been successful.

Councillor Wilkes finally commented “It is clear that not one of the 126 councillors at County Hall had any input into to the criteria for assessing this contract. We need an urgent change of direction at County Hall before there is a complete breakdown of trust between the Council and the residents of County Durham. County Durham’s residents need to know that their elected representatives are in control of the Council and that their money is being spent as wisely as possible.

“A working group of councillors is also being set up to look into the decision and, I hope, the entire procurement process at County Hall will be reviewed.”