HC Deb 12 February 1992 vol 203 cc507-8W
Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has decided to take in relation to Crawley borough council under part I of the Local Government Act 1988.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the responses that Crawley borough council has made to the notices under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 served on the authority on 29 July 1991 in relation to its failure to meet the specified financial objective in carrying out other catering work in 1989–90; on 9 October 1991 in relation to its failure to meet specified financial objective in carrying out vehicle maintenance work in 1990–91; and on 9 October 1991 in relation to its failure to meet the specified financial objective in carrying out refuse collection work 1990–91. He has decided to take no further action in relation to the authority's performance of other catering work. In relation to the its performance of the two other activities, he has today given the authority directions under section 14 of the 1988 Act, with the effect of requiring the authority to complete a retendering exercise for vehicle maintenance work by 1 October 1992, and to seek his consent by 1 July 1992 to any decision to reassign the work to the direct service organisation; and of requiring the authority to complete a retendering exercise for refuse collection work by 1 February 1993,and to seek his consent by 1 November 1992 to any decision to reassign the work to the direct service organisation.