When selecting a winning tender: how much should Councillors be told?

Question

With Christmas approaching Council has to seek tenders, and select the winning tender from those applying. The amount is over £10K. We are being asked in a paper presented to Council, in open session, to approve the lower tender. However: as it is in open session only Contractor A or Contractor B are referred to. So should Councillors ask for more information and go into closed session if necessary?

Answer 1

The discussion on the award of tenders is a subject for a closed session.  This is allowed under the Public Admissions to Meetings Act 1960 as to hold this meeting in public could be prejudicial to the outcome.  In order to award a contract fairly, councillors should be able to have all the information to hand and not a redacted version and undertake a full and frank discussion - otherwise they cannot consider all the information when coming to their decision as to who should be awarded the contract.

Comments

Many thanks.