Small Business still suffering

Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has again written to the Borough and County Councils to ask why so many Northamptonshire based SME’s are unable to win tender opportunities with the Local Councils.

“Many local businesses say they have failed to win local Government contracts which they contend have been placed with ‘out of County’ companies and I find that unacceptable” said Brian.

Brian has previously written to both Councils several times in the last two years to question the procurement process and the Council responded by stating it was committed to SME’s and would revise the current procurement policies to further improve the programme for SME’s.

In his letter Brian said: “I would be most grateful if you could let me know the results of those improvements and perhaps let me have a copy of those new policies.”

Brian also asked: “What percentage of the number of contracts and the percentage of the value of those contracts set against total spend have Northamptonshire contractors obtained over the past year from your council?” Furthermore: “What percentage of total spend has been set for both number of tenders and value of those tenders which the Council wishes to be taken up by genuine local contractors?”

Brian continued: “I am sure I don’t have to tell you that Northampton is almost totally dependent on the SME sector for private sector jobs and I equally don’t have to tell you that we have been one of the fastest growing areas of unemployment in the recent months and that has to be our concern.”

Brian went on to question the tendering and assessment process and suggested that there was evidence to the effect that local Councils were not acting within national guidelines:

“A number of small contractors in the building industry have said that the questions and format of scoring for the tender process are not in keeping with the national guidelines laid down in conjunction with national contractors and builders associations.”

Brian said: “Local jobs are vital to the well being of our County and our local Councils should recognise the importance of doing all they can to further local employment.”