Milton Keynes PPP to go on

25 Jul 02
Milton Keynes Council and Northamptonshire County Council have voted to press on with a joint £400m public-private partnership, despite fears over the future of one of the bidding companies.

26 July 2002

The Labour group at Milton Keynes voted against the PPP at a full council meeting last week. Labour leader Nigel Long claimed that the recent fall in the share price of Amey, one of the two bidders for the scheme, put its long-term future in doubt. But the group, now with just 16 members after the May local elections, was overruled by the Liberal Democrat administration.

Northamptonshire County Council voted overwhelmingly to continue with the PPP, under which both councils' core services – such as finance and law – will be outsourced to either Amey or Hyder Business Services.

In a statement, Northamptonshire said that 'no facts had emerged to cause a fundamental change to current strategy'.

The authorities have now moved to 'best and final offer' stage, allowing them to 'raise detailed questions with both companies', a spokesman for Northamptonshire said.

The Labour group at Milton Keynes said it would continue to oppose the PPP.

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