Council aiming for silver lining

THE ROW over local companies' involvement in public contracts related to the hugely lucrative G8 summit will have a silver lining, a local councillor said yesterday. Independent Perth and Kinross Council member John Lloyd revealed that the local authority is to look into holding a training seminar for companies in the area to help them secure such contracts in the future.

Furious arguments over the issue have been rumbling on since last week's revelation that, that for two years, no local firms have secured tenders for material to promote the area - including glossy publications related to the summit of world leaders. Mr Lloyd who pointed out that he remembers local contractors making the same accusations over their perceived share of the £22m flood prevention "cake," said the news of a seminar was "at least one positive to come out of it." The idea was first suggested by Mr Lloyd in a letter to enterprise convener Alan Livingston and now a reply from Mr Livingstone has said it could be taken up.

The reply said "I take your point and will promote a seminar about tendering for European, national and local contracts. "Through my initiative the enterprise committee has taken a real interest in micro business - businesses that employ 10 or less people. "Invariably they have two major problems: tendering and being paid as sub-contractors." He commented that experts such as MSP Robert Burns are to speak in Perth, adding "I think we could develop a seminar around involvement and their visit(s)."

Mr Lloyd welcomed the news and said "This... hopefully would be a robust two-way affair with local companies suggesting ways that the council could improve their methods, such as tenders written in plain English and not gobbledy gook."

A number of local business people expressed rage in recent days at the award of G8 promotional materials to companies outwith the area. A section of the business community has even set up its own website as an alternative forum for the business community, at www.perthshirebusiness.com However, perth and Kinross Council has launched a defence of its tendering process, insisting it it fair and clear, also following the stringent regulations involved.

Original story from the Perthshire Courier 09/03/05 written by Mike Donachie