WHAT’S IN IT FOR THEM OR THE “SARNIES FOR CONTRACTS SCANDAL”

When Irene Lucas, Chief Executive South Tyneside Council, replied to my Freedom of Information request (see my post 24.05.07 THE MONKEY AND THE ORGAN GRINDER) she listed 11 companies who had provided financial sponsorship re the Temple Park “Performing Together” extravaganza. This little bit of information inevitably leads to the question what on earth is in it for them to sponsor this event? A quick trawl of the internet gives you the answer. Every one of these companies will no doubt have extensive commercial contracts with the Council, and it is therefore in their best interests to keep South Tyneside executives happy. Below is a list of the companies involved, a description of their interests and why sponsorship could be construed by less scrupulous people than myself as being beneficial to their business interests.

1. THE R AND B GROUP
Suppliers of conference facilities, including stages, video equipment, set design and equipment hire.
www. rbgroup.co.uk
Every conference that the Council organises, every in house training video and every show staged over the summer needs professional services such as those supplied by R and B.

2. TERBERG
Waste handling and recycling facilities and advisors.
www.terberg.co.uk
With recycling issues and waste management problems dominating politics and shaping future governmental policy, Terberg are ideally placed as consultants to advice the Council.

3. KPMG
Auditors, tax advice, risk advice etc
www.kpmg.co.uk
Councils always need auditors, risk assessment etc. Who better placed than KPMG?

4. EVERSHEDS
Business lawyers
www.eversheds.com
The same rationale used above applies to legal advice.

5. GLENDALE COUNTRYSIDE
Estate management, agricultural surveys, tree maintenance etc.
www.glendale-services.co.uk
South Tyneside is a leafy area, who better then to look after our trees and parks.

6. ISS WATERERS
Landscape facilities
www.isswaterers.co.uk
With all this building work going on, the improvements to Jarrow and Hebburn etc, what you need is a good landscape company….

7. DELOITTE
Services to local government, auditors, departmental down sizing etc
www.deloitte.com
The internal workings of a borough council the size of South Tyneside constantly need reviewing. Who better then? Perhaps Doiltte were the consultants who charged £300,000 for PFI lighting advice?

8. DELL
Computer and lap top suppliers
www.dell.co.uk
I bet every single PC and laptop in the Borough comes from Dell

9. 3COM
Computer technology, hardware, networking etc
www.3com.com
The same rationale applies to 3com

10. SSI SCHAEFFER
Waste management systems, including provision of wheelie bins of all colours.
www.schaeffer.co.uk
With Miliband planning a different bin for different rubbish, what the Council needs is a company that can supply them by the thousand. And in pretty colours. Welcome Schaeffer.

11. WALKER PROFILES
Suppliers of PVC windows
No site details available
All these new houses need PVC windows and the decent homes programme calls for existing stock to be upgraded. No wonder they don’t have a web site, they don’t need to advertise.

You can see therefore, that when the accuser asks “what’s in it for them?” he arrives at one answer only; contracts. A little pat on the back for the council’s executive and a little reminder that when tenders are being awarded, please remember who supplied the corporate freebie at Temple Park.

What’s even more worrying however, is that council executives are willing to compromise themselves and be placed in the position whereby the integrity of any future contract awards will now be questioned. They are also open to the accusation of accepting corporate hospitality which could be linked to the awarding of contracts, showing dreadful business and political judgement. As already highlighted, how would it look if Deloitte were the consultants who received £300,000 in PFI advice fess, and they also helped council officials wine and dine for free?

I have a feeling that this issue is going to pick up some momentum; I have already placed the matter in front of a couple of good regional journalists and all three want to give it full front page treatment. With the backing of a newspapers infrastructure, what other things will they find out? Perhaps it’s a case of “watch this space”. For me however, it’s off to Temple Park. With all the publicity and web site listings I’ve highlighted for the above companies, I’m going for my free plate of nosh and a knees up. The freebies are on me!!!!!!!!