KCC "bent the rules" on KentTV

6.00.00pm GMT Tue 15th Dec 2009

It was revealed today that Kent County Council did not go through the proper procedures when awarding a contract to consultants CapGemini to review the sucess of its controversial TV channel, KentTV. The Council's constitution requires that any contract worth £8,000 and over needs three written quotations to ensure the best qualified and most competitive firm is used. However, Trudy Dean, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition at KCC, has learned that no other quotations were asked for when CapGemini were awarded the contract for £8,000 in November.

Trudy has already criticised the quality of the report when it was discussed by members of the Corporate Policy OSC . She commented:

"Members need a reliable, independent and robust report to help them make the decision on whether to extend the KentTV contract beyond the two year pilot. Because KCC bent the rules, members cannot be sure that CapGemini were the best people to do the job."

The answers provided to Trudy also state that permission to short cut the normal process was approved by Council Chief Executrive Peter Gilroy who is Chairman of the KentTV board.

Mr Gilroy was also questioned by the Councils Cabinet Scrutiny Committee in August when it became known that in Spring he had personally authorised payment of £350,000 to KentTV to extend their 2 year contract by another seven months. Members agreed that he had not broken any rules in doing so but asked the Leader of the Council, Paul Carter, as Chairman of the Personnel Committee to review the guidance to officers with potential conflicts of interest. Interestingly the Cabinet Scrutiny Members received a reply last week, not from Mr Carter, but from Mr Gilroy himself , stating that the guidance would not be reviewed as it was unnecessary to do so.

Trudy, as Chairman of Cabinet Scrutiny, said:

"Members will be deciding what to do shortly. It would seem strange to me to let the matter drop simply because the person whose conduct gave rise to the queries says we should back off. "