Do you remember when you were a little kid, if you didn’t like something you would ignore it and hope it would go away? I sometimes think that the City of Westminster operates on the same principle. I understand that it’s still in court over the debacle of renewing its street parking contract and now they have pissed off the European Commission.
The City set up Partners in Parking to jointly commission parking services with other local authorities to reduce costs. PiP awarded a contract to Verrus, so far so good. Then it went a bit wrong. As other local authorities joined PiP, they simply added their requirements to the existing Verrus contract. Following a complaint The EU Commission investigated.
On 8 November the City released a press statement saying that the investigation “has cleared the authority of any wrongdoing".
Councillor Lee Rowley, Westminster's parking boss, said at the time: "We always maintained this contract was properly awarded following a tender process carried out in accordance with the law and we are obviously pleased that the EU has decided to close this case."
The truth is rather different. In a written statement The EU Commission said: "The Commission considered that Westminster City Council has infringed EU law. The United Kingdom authorities recognised the Commission's allegations and committed to take appropriate and adequate measures for the purpose of terminating the infringement."
All together now, fingers in ears, LA, LA LA....
Peter Guest
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