One year and the Clerk managed to find no one to tender, in the past I have felt
there has been a lack of interest in the office actually tender for anything.
This was most likely assisted by Cllr Lucas BEM comments as she stated
in a recent meeting there was no need to tender and we should just get on
and do the job. I guess its because its not our money being spent it does not
matter what we pay?
As a council we should be seeking value for money.
The council really needs to look at the way it handles or does not handle its
tendering process.
Some past councillors have tried to bring about change but have failed.
The Council is quite rubbish, it won't go unnoticed that all the recent
tendering has not been exempt. A Rutland County Councillor pointed
out Oakham Town Council only exempt items that they think might
cause them some embarrassment.
We currently have a chairman, Cllr Michael Haley who stated at our last meeting
it would be unlawful for the Clerk or Council to invite companies to tender.
Despite this having been recorded and published Cllr Haley wrote to me
denying he said it???
The Council also agreed the toilet cleaning contract with only one tender from
the existing cleaning company.
I can understand the Clerk may not be able to find a list of grounds grounds
maintenance contractors that other councils use. But surely the Clerk can
find a local list of cleaning companies?
At the same meeting we deferred a the agenda item for the Cutts Close Path
which looks like it is going to cost around £74,000
slipped in at the last minute was authority to actually advertise for a quote.
Oakham Town Council often do things back to front.
The council will now advertise for a quotation for the path replacement
in the Rutland Times. I don't know many large tarmac companies who read
the Rutland Times, requests to use trade magazines or websites for advertising
are ignored.
Also at the same meeting the council agreed not to tender for the Christmas
tree and agreed to Pay Lite Ltd £1700 to sub contracting supplying a tree.
