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RESOLVED:           
That the recommendations from the Corporate
Performance Panel, as set out below be approved:
 
In
terms of preparation for the next taxi testing contract:
To
approve the recommendations from the Corporate Performance Panel,
as set out below.
 
In
terms of preparation for the next taxi testing contract:
 
a.   
The new tender to be
advertised on Delta E-Sourcing and Find-A-Tender, and the
Council’s own website.  Any
contractor wishing to apply shall be advised to register on
Delta.  Direct invitations from the
Delta tender box shall not be sent.
b.   
All correspondence
after the competition is opened to be sent through the Delta
portal.  All enquiries received outside
the portal are to be redirected through Delta.
c.   
To consider and
discuss with the legal team, including in the Contract Standing
Orders, the ability to invite bidders to tender.
d.   
In line with the new
Procurement Act 2023 for under threshold procurements, checks would
be put in place to ensure that businesses were bona fide
businesses.  Financial information could
be requested, but businesses showing a loss in accounts would not
be excluded from then being awarded a contract.  The reason for requiring financial information was
purely to evidence that the business was legitimate. 
e.   
Questions and criteria
to be included in the tender process would need to be agreed with
officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning
and Licensing.
f.    
It would not be left
to the discretion of one officer if additional stations were
brought forward to become testing stations after the initial
contract was awarded.  Consultation with
the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Licensing would be
required.
 
Whilst not strictly falling within the terms of reference of the
IWG, this additional recommendation was made for CPP’s
consideration and supported by the Panel:
 
g.   
Should an external
review of Council processes be required, it should be instructed in
writing by an officer independent of the originating matter and not
involved in any previous internal review.
 
Reason for
Decision
 
To ensure that lessons learned
from the 2021 taxi testing contract process are considered during
the letting of the next contract.