Cheshire East Council waived rules three times for physio firm
- Published
The leader of Cheshire East Council has always denied making any money from contracts awarded to Core Fit Ltd
A council waived its own financial rules three times when awarding contracts to a firm run by the local authority leader's physiotherapist.
Other companies were not able to bid for the contracts - collectively worth £156,000 to Core Fit Ltd - which were offered by Cheshire East Council.
Details of the deals came following a BBC Freedom of Information request.
Councillors have called for an external inquiry while the council said no "unlawful expenditure" had been made.
Conservative Michael Jones, leader of Cheshire East Council, has always insisted he has made no money from the contracts awarded to his personal physiotherapist Amanda Morris's company.
Her firm, which runs fitness classes in schools, has not commented.
'Very limited exceptions'
Senior Labour councillor Laura Jeuda said the council had "refused to provide any meaningful explanation" as to why the normal rules were waived for the contracts.
But the authority's chief executive Mike Suarez said there had been no "unlawful expenditure or any breach of EU procurement rules".
The firm's three contracts were all awarded between June 2014 and March 2015 without any competitive tender exercise. Forms were signed to waive the rules.
At least three companies must be invited to compete for any contract worth more than £10,000, according to Cheshire East Council's rules.
The constitution states the rules can be waived in "very limited exceptions" which are "essential to the efficient running" of the authority.
Core Fit Ltd contracts
June 2014
Core Fit Ltd is awarded a £20,000 contract to "provide a pilot core fitness training programme" in primary schools. The rules were waived to "allow the activity to be piloted at short notice".
March 2015
Core Fit Ltd is awarded another contract, worth £115,000, to extend the 2014 pilot scheme. The rules were waived so a "full evaluation" can be carried out.
Core Fit Ltd is awarded a third contract, worth £21,000, for "mind health training" in schools as part of the pilot scheme. The rules were waived so a "comprehensive evaluation" could be carried out.
In October Mr Jones told fellow councillors he had no involvement in the council's procurement process but said: "I did introduce my physio to the council."
He told the meeting he did declare his link to Core Fit Ltd, adding: "I had no vested interest and I make no money from that."
Answering councillors who have called for an independent external investigation, chief executive Mike Suarez said: "I see no reason for [one] and have discussed that view with the external auditors, who are independent of the council and satisfied that the approach the council has taken does not require their formal involvement."