Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“I greatly welcome the finding of the Ombudsman in respect of a complaint from a young female constituent in North Antrim who was treated appallingly by Causeway Council in a procurement process involving the auction for the coffee sales pitch at West Strand, Portrush.
“Such was the manipulation of the process, with the qualification rules changed midway through the process, that this young lady to win the auction had to bid £14,500 plus vat to secure the site when all the time, to the Council’s knowledge, the underbidder did not meet the published qualification criteria.
“Thankfully, now, as a result of the Ombudsman’s findings, the Council will have to refund her the £15,000 extra payment which was extracted from her by the unfair auction process.
“This is not the first time the maladministration of Causeway Coast and Glens Council has been exposed, but a particularly disappointing aspect of this case is that whereas the Council corporately accepted it was wrong, the official involved has continued to reject the adverse findings – something which in itself I find impossible to reconcile with the collective responsibility of council staff.
“I trust this is now the end of the mistreatment of this young entrepreneur, whom I’ve been pleased to assist, that lessons will be learned and real improvements made by this errant council.”
See the full report here.