TUPE re-bid ordered

Environment Minister Tony Baldry has ordered Southampton council to re-tender a maintenance contract.

The Minister ruled that insufficient workforce information was originally given for contractors to submit bids which included provision for the effect of the TUPE regulations. The council also refused to allow tenders to modify their bids in the light of the authority's assessment of whether TUPE applied.

Baldry has ruled that this constituted anti-competitive behaviour.