Council seeks new security contract
HALTON Borough Council is to launch a search for a contractor for a four-year £2.48m contract after Select Security (North West) Ltd was placed in administration.
The local authority’s executive board will discuss the matter today (Thursday) at the Municipal Building in Widnes.
A report published ahead of the meeting said Halton Council learned of the firm’s demise in February.
An administrator, one of the company’s creditors, had been appointed to manage the process in January.
The report said the council had not been aware of its demise because services had continued to be provided with no change.
Halton stadium sponsor Select Security was sold to ANBP Management Contract Services (NW) Ltd, which has changed its name to Select Security (NW) and is now providing security services to the council on an interim basis until the contract tendering process is complete.
Select Security (North West) was based in Leigh, its successor is registered to Wrexham.
Accounts filed with Companies House showed the contractor had a cash balance of £1,705 in 2015, down from £58,568 the year before, with £2.57m owed to creditors in 2014.
Under EU tendering rules the council will have to allow multiple bids for the contract.
The executive board report said the deal is worth £620,000 a year, with £98,000 of that covering security for The Brindley and stadium, £135,000 for open spaces and development and £387,000 for corporate buildings.
Select Security (North West) Ltd had been awarded the contract on June 1, 2015, six months before it filed for administration.
The report’s author said: “It was acknowledged that, as an interim measure, the council had little option but to continue with the current provider.”