Competitive Tendering and the Operation of Local Authorities

Local authorities are to be required to subject a number of their services to competitive tender in a phased programme beginning in August 1989. There is al ready some experience of tendering for highways and building work following the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980. The new legislation — the Local Government Act 1988 — will have a profound effect. The first tranche of services that are to be subject to competition will be refuse collection, street cleansing, buildings cleaning, catering, grounds maintenance, vehicle maintenance and leisure management. In the longer term it is expected that the competitive regime will be extended to a much wider range of services. Almost any service that the local authority delivers might be subject to competition.