Ref Ian Stevenson's letter The Sun Friday 24/12 ' Bottomless chequebook of the TCC ratepayer”.
I agree that the awarding of major contracts by TCC to so called 'city partners” is a rort and ratepayers are being continually ripped off left right and centre. When you read that TCC award a contract to a city partner (recommended by council staff) with the highest bid, that is 41% higher than the next bidder then there is something seriously wrong in the TCC.
Large council projects should be put out to open tender so that 'city partners” have to compete fairly on the open market with major contractors from all over NZ. The best overall bid should then be selected and not given to a company recommended by council staff just because they are 'city partners”. There is more than a hint of something underhand going on here.
An Auckland company advised TCC that they could draft a 'design and build” contract for the new Sport and Exhibition centre that would be $9 million less that the $42 million contract which council accepted. Bob Clarkson also stated he could do the job for far less but was turned down. Come on TCC what is going on ? You are spending ratepayers money faster than they can earn it because you are taking the easy way out and awarding contracts to companies just because they are 'city partners”. They must be laughing all the way to the bank.
TCC will probably respond to this with 'You don't know the full story on these contracts”. That is the problem, the ratepayers are never told the complete detail and background as too much is kept under wraps.
Perhaps it is time we petitioned for a Commissioner to run the city.
Roger Bailey, Papamoa Beach.