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WHO’S BACKING BEN HOUCHEN, TEES VALLEY MAYOR?
EPISODE 3
Three public sector contracts, two companies, one director, and a generous donation to the Tees Valley mayor.
But so what?
[Thread]
![WHO’S BACKING BEN HOUCHEN, TEES VALLEY MAYOR?EPISODE 3Three public sector contracts, two companies, one director, and a generous donation to the Tees Valley mayor. But so what?[Thread]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EimKIBKXcAEzCFN.jpg "WHO’S BACKING BEN HOUCHEN, TEES VALLEY MAYOR?EPISODE 3Three public sector contracts, two companies, one director, and a generous donation to the Tees Valley mayor. But so what?[Thread]")
EPISODE 3
Three public sector contracts, two companies, one director, and a generous donation to the Tees Valley mayor.
But so what?
[Thread]
26/04/19. A normal day at the TVCA, as it seemed. But on this day the Gazette announced that Close Protection Security Ltd had been awarded the contract for landside security at Teesside Airport.
Nice, but not exactly earth shattering, you might think. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/durham-tees-valley-airport-bulks-16188311.
Nice, but not exactly earth shattering, you might think. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/durham-tees-valley-airport-bulks-16188311.
Shaun Woods, Airport Manager: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Close Protection Security. We already have a close relationship with CPS thanks to [their] security work at St George Hotel... [so] it made sense to bring CPS on-board for landside security duties.”
Financial details of the deal could not be revealed because they were “commercially sensitive”, but the agreement was to work “on a rolling basis”.
To put this into other words: the contract is open ended and appears to have been awarded without a tendering process.
To put this into other words: the contract is open ended and appears to have been awarded without a tendering process.
Ben Houchen was enthusiastic. In the first place it ensures that contracts go to local firms, and secondly, as he said “Chris and Glenn at CPS have done a fantastic job so far”.
Now this was remarkably perceptive: Chris Petty had only been appointed as director 8 weeks earlier.
Now this was remarkably perceptive: Chris Petty had only been appointed as director 8 weeks earlier.
2019, it turns out, was a good year for Chris Petty. Another company of which he is managing director, Cornerstone Business Solutions, was later in the year awarded a contract to supply IT support to the airport https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2019/10/01/business-solutions-provider-flies-high-with-digital-teesside-airport-deal
This is unsurprising as Chris Petty is already well known in airport circles, as his company already has a contract with Cameron’s Brewery, whose chairman is David Soley, also the non-executive chair of the airport board.
Then in November, it was announced that Cornerstone Business Solutions had been awarded the contract to supply free WiFi connection in Middlesbrough town centre, in a deal worth just over £84,000. https://teesbusiness.co.uk/2019/08/07/cornerstone-signs-council-wifi-deal/
Cornerstone is based in Map House in Stockton, the same building that once housed Houchen’s own company, RU Active Ltd, as well as Map Group UK.
We mention this as Map Group UK is among Houchen’s donors.
As is Cornerstone, which gifted Houchen £5,000 in Dec 2019.
But so what?
We mention this as Map Group UK is among Houchen’s donors.
As is Cornerstone, which gifted Houchen £5,000 in Dec 2019.
But so what?
Given Chris Petty’s success in winning public sector contracts for the two companies of which he is a director (he has since resigned as director of Close Protection Security), this donation should raise eyebrows.
Is this a case of cash for contracts?
That’s what it looks like.
It may be that Houchen’s enthusiasm for hiring local firms may be based on something other than local pride.
If there is an alternative explanation for the award of these contracts, Houchen needs to provide it.
That’s what it looks like.
It may be that Houchen’s enthusiasm for hiring local firms may be based on something other than local pride.
If there is an alternative explanation for the award of these contracts, Houchen needs to provide it.
