§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the form of competitive tender arrangements for the supply of estate agency services for the valuation and banding exercise for the introduction of the council tax in Wales; and if he will give the cost of the exercise, broken down by payments to each firm of estate agents or chartered surveyors employed and in which local authority area they were employed.
§ Mr. NelsonThe competitive tendering arrangements for the award of contracts to private sector firms for the valuation banding of domestic properties for the council tax in Wales were undertaken by the Valuation Office Agency.
The exercise was based on the established public sector procurement process of press advertising, pre-qualification and sealed bid tendering. The process throughout was the subject of consultation with the main valuers' professional institutions.
The pre-qualification stage involved an operational assessment by the agency of firms who registered an interest in assisting with the valuation banding, and an assessment of financial viability by independent consultants. Those firms successful at this stage were invited to tender.
The evaluation of bids and the authorisation of the award of contracts to successful firms was undertaken by a tender evaluation board. The board comprised representatives from the agency, the Welsh Office and the professional institutions.
191WThe total cost of the contracts awarded to private sector firms, which were completed earlier this year, amounted to £1,406,142. It is not possible to disclose the payments to each contractor, on the grounds of commercial confidence.
The district council areas in Wales where contracts were awarded, and the contractors employed in these areas is shown in the table.
192W
District council area Contractor Aberconwy Nationwide Estate Agents; J. Hampson & Co. Alyn and Deeside Dixon Webb Blaenau Gwent Morgan Knight; Scotts Brecknock King Thomas Lloyd-Jones & Co. Cardiff Connell Estate Agents; Black Horse Agencies; Peter Alan Ltd; James Jones & Henton Ceredigion Evans Bros; King Thomas Lloyd-Jones & Co. Colwyn Kitching Bell; J. Hampson & Co. Cynon Valley Lanyon Davies & Evans Delyn Kitching Bell; J. Hampson & Co. Dwyfor Bob Parry & Co. Ltd. Glyndwr Kitching Bell Islwyn Morgan Knight Llanelli W. Griffiths Son & Lewis Lliw Valley Foote & Halfpenny; Fairwood Surveyors & Valuers Meirionnydd Farmers Marts (R. G. Jones) Ltd. Merthyr Tydfil William Graham & Co. Monmouth William Graham & Co; Russell Baldwin & Bright; Colleys Professional Services Montgomeryshire Farmers Marts (R. G. Jones) Ltd; Norman R. Lloyd & Co; Morris Marshall & Pool Neath Foote & Halfpenny; Peter Alan Ltd. Newport William Graham & Co; Black Horse Agencies Ogwr Payton Jewell Caines & Hurry; Peter Alan Ltd; CRGP Bute UK Port Talbot Payton Jewell Caines & Hurry Preseli Pembrokeshire Evans Bros; King Thomas Lloyd-Jones & Co. Radnor King Thomas Lloyd-Jones & Co. Rhuddlan J. Hampson & Co. Rhymney Valley William Graham & Co. South Prembrokeshire Evans Bros Swansea Fairwood Surveyors & Valuers
District council area Contractor Taff-Ely CRGP Bute UK Torfaen William Graham & Co. Vale of Glamorgan Kemps; Martin Cotsen & Co. Ynys Môn—Isle of Anglesey N. W. Burnell & Associate; Swetenhams Royal Life Estates