Opposition councillors have called for an independent inquiry after it emerged that a water maintenance contract worth £3.2 million a year was extended for five years without a tender.
Papers seen by the Harbour Herald show the extension was signed in March, two months before the old contract ended. Council rules normally require at least three bids for contracts of this size.
The council said the extension was allowed under emergency rules because pipes in the Northgate district were failing faster than expected. "Changing contractors in the middle of that work would have put supplies at risk," a spokesperson said.
The audit committee will discuss the request at its next meeting on the 14th.
2 comments