An Angus councillor clashed with a top official over the tender process for Montrose’s £10 million swimming pool project.
Corporate services committee members meeting in Forfar rubber-stamped a report listing six preferred bidders for the Marine Avenue scheme, which will create a six-lane pool with studio pool, changing “village” and sauna area.
The project, for which three reserve bidders have also been lined up, will also involve a major facelift of Montrose sports centre.
Angus Council took its bidder search into Europe, and with disappointment already expressed at the absence of local companies among the bidders, Alliance councillor Peter Nield also questioned the shortness of the preferred bidders’ list.
“The thing that niggles me a bit is that we have to whittle it down to six when the report tells us that there were 15 firms who might have been suitable for the project,” he said.
“Why can’t we have all 15 in a totally open and competitive bidding process?
“I just think we are being a bit restrictive when we could open it up and be getting better value for money,” added Mr Nield.
Corporate services director Colin McMahon said a six-strong preferred bidder list was a recognised custom and practice of Angus and authorities across Scotland.
He said there was a reputational aspect to expanding the number on the list, where the odds against firms landing a contract would be higher.
“I think to ask 15 bidders to put forward bids is not in the longer term interests of the council,” said Mr McMahon.
“It would be creating a precedent and rather than reducing bureaucracy it would be adding to it,” he said.
Finance chief Ian Lorimer said the Montrose project was the largest awarded by the authority for some time and in answer to concerns aired by council depute leader Ian Mackintosh, he gave members an assurance that additional financial checks had been applied in light of the financial climate.
Angus Council was forced to renegotiate a contract for the extension of Webster’s High School after building firm Torith collapsed.
The pool project has created considerable controversy, but local councillor David May said he was delighted to see the tender report coming forward.
“The new facilities will be greatly welcomed and the contractors invited to tender are all Scottish so this will be a boost to an industry which is without question having problems given the state of the economy,” Mr May told the committee.
Forfar councillor and neighbourhood services vice-convener Colin Brown said, “I really did wish it would be the Forfar pool we were discussing here today, but it is not.
“We were committed to replacing worst first, immaterial of where it was in Angus, and I am proud that we can commit to such a project. It is a lot of money but…(it) will be an asset to the entire county.”