Sutherland trades wait anxiously for outcome of discussions as Highland Council delays going live with new procurement framework
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Highland Council has postponed the date on which its controversial new trades procurement framework was set to “go live”.
A planned induction for contractors who have been included in the new framework, has also been cancelled.
Councillors and contractors are now anxiously waiting to find out whether or not the authority will make a complete U-turn.
East Sutherland and Edderton ward councillor Jim McGillivray said: “Let’s see what happens next”.
The issue provoked one of the largest ever number of posts on any one issue on the Northern Times’ Facebook page.
The new procurement system was set to be introduced on February 24 following a “standstill period”, which has now been extended until March 9.
If it was to go ahead, it would see the majority of local contractors, many of whom have worked for the authority for decades, bypassed in favour of tradespeople from Inverness and elsewhere who have made it on to lists of preferred firms.
Local trades have warned that it would have a devastating effect on jobs and apprenticeships in the county as well as a knock-on effect on the wider economy.
And questions have also been asked as to how it can be any cheaper to employ a contractor from Inverness over a local worker to undertake jobs in Sutherland.
The situation has been mirrored in other outlying areas including Skye
Four Sutherland councillors attended last Thursday’s meeting - Richard Gale, Jim McGillivray, Deirdre Mackay and Linda Munro..
Cllr Richard Gale, chairman of Sutherland County Committee, said: “Strong representations were made in support of Sutherland at the meeting and we met afterwards with the chief executive and head of service afterwards to air our concerns. Discussions are ongoing.”
Fellow East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay said: “The chief executive took our points on board and committed to considering these in more detail.”
But Cllr Jim McGillivray, who has consistently criticised the council as “Inverness-centric” said: “I just saw council officers holding to the official line on this with no acknowledgement of the economic stress it will cause to Sutherland trades businesses, their employees and apprentices.”
A statement issued by Highland Council reads: “The standstill period under the council’s Trades Services Framework agreement was due to close on Monday February 17 with the intention of a proposed live date with the new arrangements and contracts of February 24.
“A number of questions have been raised and in order to consider and investigate any concerns, the council is therefore extending the standstill period by a further 21 days to midnight on Monday, March 9
“The council has written to the 195 contractors who tendered for the framework to inform them of the extended period.”
Cllr Ben Thompson, chairman of the property and housing committee said: “It is important that we listen to any concerns and that any issues are fully investigated.”
On social media Lawrence Macrae posted: “It’s down to using bigger companies to cover the Highland area which in a procurement exercise may look like the best option, but the reality is that it will be the worst from a service point of view and no doubt from a financial point of view as well. Very disappointing decision for Sutherland."
Plumber Wilbo MacDonald wrote: “I’ve been doing council maintenance for the council for the last 38 years. I've been called out at midnight and 2am sometimes to water coming through the ceiling. I'm there usually very quickly. By the time a contractor from Inverness gets to Brora, the ceilings will be down. It would be about £50 for my bill but by the time they get there, the damage to the property will by hundreds of pounds. Thanks for letting us all down Highland Council.
And Peter Burr posted: “Tradesmen heading north patients heading south all decided in Inverness the power’s that be haven’t a clue what happens over the Kessock bridge.”
