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Council faces EU parking inquiry | Council faces EU parking inquiry |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Westminster Council's parking department is being investigated by the European Union over alleged contractual irregularities, BBC London has learned. | Westminster Council's parking department is being investigated by the European Union over alleged contractual irregularities, BBC London has learned. |
The inquiry concerns Partnerships in Parking, a body set up by the council to allow local authorities to join forces to buy cheap parking services. | The inquiry concerns Partnerships in Parking, a body set up by the council to allow local authorities to join forces to buy cheap parking services. |
In February, BBC London revealed police are holding an inquiry into another contract awarded by the department. | In February, BBC London revealed police are holding an inquiry into another contract awarded by the department. |
Westminster Council has insisted it did not break any rules. | Westminster Council has insisted it did not break any rules. |
Partnerships in Parking (PiP) was set up by Westminster's head of parking Alastair Gilchrist and Councillor Danny Chalkley. | Partnerships in Parking (PiP) was set up by Westminster's head of parking Alastair Gilchrist and Councillor Danny Chalkley. |
Transport for London and six local authorities in the city joined when it was first started up. They said they hoped to get a better deal for parking enforcement services from the private sector. | Transport for London and six local authorities in the city joined when it was first started up. They said they hoped to get a better deal for parking enforcement services from the private sector. |
We are aware of this enquiry and have responded to the commission's request for information Councillor Danny Chalkey | We are aware of this enquiry and have responded to the commission's request for information Councillor Danny Chalkey |
Canadian company Verrus was awarded the contract to provide pay-and-display services, pay-by-phone, parking tickets and debt collection to the councils. | Canadian company Verrus was awarded the contract to provide pay-and-display services, pay-by-phone, parking tickets and debt collection to the councils. |
But it is alleged that, when additional councils joined PiP, they broke European Union rules by automatically starting to use Verrus, rather than tendering it out. | But it is alleged that, when additional councils joined PiP, they broke European Union rules by automatically starting to use Verrus, rather than tendering it out. |
The British government chose not to investigate the case. But the European Union launched its own enquiry - and ordered the UK government to account for its own decision not to. | The British government chose not to investigate the case. But the European Union launched its own enquiry - and ordered the UK government to account for its own decision not to. |
The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) then asked Westminster Council's legal team to draft a reply to the EU. | The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) then asked Westminster Council's legal team to draft a reply to the EU. |
Infringement proceedings | Infringement proceedings |
An OGC spokesman told the BBC: "I can confirm that we have been in discussions with the European Commission and Westminster Council and we will be able to update you in due course." | An OGC spokesman told the BBC: "I can confirm that we have been in discussions with the European Commission and Westminster Council and we will be able to update you in due course." |
A European Commission spokesman said: "There is indeed a case. We sent a letter of formal notice on 20 November 2009 - this is the first stage of our infringement proceedings. | A European Commission spokesman said: "There is indeed a case. We sent a letter of formal notice on 20 November 2009 - this is the first stage of our infringement proceedings. |
"UK authorities replied on 22 January. This reply is currently under assessment - next step not yet decided. | "UK authorities replied on 22 January. This reply is currently under assessment - next step not yet decided. |
"If we're content with [the] UK government reply, we close the case. If we're not, then we move to the second stage of infringement proceedings." | "If we're content with [the] UK government reply, we close the case. If we're not, then we move to the second stage of infringement proceedings." |
Councillor Danny Chalkley, Westminster Council's cabinet member for city management, said: "We are aware of this enquiry and have responded to the commission's request for information. | Councillor Danny Chalkley, Westminster Council's cabinet member for city management, said: "We are aware of this enquiry and have responded to the commission's request for information. |
"The contract was properly awarded after a tender process carried out in accordance with the law and the council's procurement processes. | "The contract was properly awarded after a tender process carried out in accordance with the law and the council's procurement processes. |
"We will continue to work with Verrus to provide effective parking services across central London." | "We will continue to work with Verrus to provide effective parking services across central London." |
'Too busy' | 'Too busy' |
On Wednesday Mr Gilchrist was due to speak at a conference on parking services to "discuss the merits of the PiP framework agreement" (The agreement to have parking services supplied by Verrus through PiP). | On Wednesday Mr Gilchrist was due to speak at a conference on parking services to "discuss the merits of the PiP framework agreement" (The agreement to have parking services supplied by Verrus through PiP). |
However, he cancelled the event at the last minute. Mr Gilchrist told the BBC it was because he was "too busy" to speak. | However, he cancelled the event at the last minute. Mr Gilchrist told the BBC it was because he was "too busy" to speak. |
It is the second time in as many months it has emerged that the council's parking department is under investigation. | It is the second time in as many months it has emerged that the council's parking department is under investigation. |
In February, police began an investigation into allegations of fraud against two senior officers at Westminster Council. | In February, police began an investigation into allegations of fraud against two senior officers at Westminster Council. |
That case concerned the awarding of another multi-million pound parking enforcement contract to a different private company. | |
Westminster insists that contract was also properly tendered. | Westminster insists that contract was also properly tendered. |
That investigation followed a series of controversies connected to Westminster Council's parking department. | That investigation followed a series of controversies connected to Westminster Council's parking department. |
Earlier in February, BBC London revealed that Westminster's diplomatic parking bays had not had the correct authorisation for three decades, meaning millions of pounds of fines may be unenforceable. | Earlier in February, BBC London revealed that Westminster's diplomatic parking bays had not had the correct authorisation for three decades, meaning millions of pounds of fines may be unenforceable. |
In January it was caught ordering officers to find ways to use parking to make more revenue, in an apparent breach of the law. | In January it was caught ordering officers to find ways to use parking to make more revenue, in an apparent breach of the law. |
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