Issue - meetings

To consider a recommendation from the Development Sub-Committee on the expenditure for construction works at Spelthorne Leisure Centre.

This report contains exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006 Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in the bidding process for the services by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council. This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to acquire services in order to enable regeneration in the Borough.

It was proposed by Councillor N. Gething, Seconded by Councillor J. Boughtflower and resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of this item, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority and potentially the selected provider in a competitive procurement process by allowing other bidders to know the financial position of the Council and the selected provider. This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the procurement process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to achieve the most economically advantageous contract and (iii) might dissuade organisations bidding for the Council's tenders if their commercial information was put into the public domain.

It was proposed by Councillor R Noble and seconded by Councillor L Nichols and resolved to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.

A recorded vote was requested.

Report to follow.

The Committee noted that progress had been made in negotiations with Willmott Dixon and that the issue would be considered by full Council at their Extraordinary meeting on 10 March 2022.  

The Committee noted that progress had been made in negotiations with Willmott Dixon and that the issue would be considered by full Council at their Extraordinary meeting on 10 March 2022.