20th September 2010, 05:34 PM
(This post was last modified: 20th September 2010, 05:37 PM by vulpes.)
This thread is getting a bit confused
Let's be clear, Tender Lists (where they exist) for local authority tenders are a completely different thing to lists of archaeological contractors to inform people carrying out planning related archaeological work. Many local authority tenders are placed on open online tender systems such as Intend. The IfAs statement does suggest that RO status could be a reasonable pre-qualification requirement however.
As for Councils running closed shops in relation to their own projects, the reality is quite to the contrary. As councils are spending public money they are subject to much more scrutiny over tender processes than the private sector. Not to mention being subject to Freedom of Information provisions etc.
Kevin - In the context of the Competition Act - 'Planning obligations' refers to obligations under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act. As such I'm not sure that your point is of particular relevance here, except in those specific instances where archaeological matters are dealt with under a Section 106 legal agreement, as opposed to a Planning Condition. That's my understanding anyway.
Let's be clear, Tender Lists (where they exist) for local authority tenders are a completely different thing to lists of archaeological contractors to inform people carrying out planning related archaeological work. Many local authority tenders are placed on open online tender systems such as Intend. The IfAs statement does suggest that RO status could be a reasonable pre-qualification requirement however.
As for Councils running closed shops in relation to their own projects, the reality is quite to the contrary. As councils are spending public money they are subject to much more scrutiny over tender processes than the private sector. Not to mention being subject to Freedom of Information provisions etc.
Kevin - In the context of the Competition Act - 'Planning obligations' refers to obligations under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act. As such I'm not sure that your point is of particular relevance here, except in those specific instances where archaeological matters are dealt with under a Section 106 legal agreement, as opposed to a Planning Condition. That's my understanding anyway.