Press Release Regarding Connex Bus Contract Review

20 November 2006

COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL CONNEX BUS REVIEW TO TAKE PLACE – BUT NOT UNTIL 2007

Letter to Deputy Roy Le Herissier sets out C&AG’s position

Following a recent call from Deputy Roy Le Herissier for an urgent review of the award of the Connex school bus contract, the Comptroller & Auditor General, Chris Swinson, has today met with the Deputy and has undertaken to conduct a review of the Connex school bus contract, but within the context of a review of the scheduled bus contract, already planned to take place next year.

In an accompanying letter to the Deputy, the Comptroller & Auditor General sets out the rationale by which urgent reviews are undertaken; and explains the current criteria surrounding the school bus contract issue, which preclude a review at this particular time.

In order to conduct an urgent review, the Comptroller & Auditor General considers whether there is:

prima facie evidence, concerning a decision or an organisation, which supports an urgent review in the public interest;
good reason to believe that undertaking a review would be safeguarding the public’s interest, which would not otherwise be protected if a review did not take place;
reason to suppose that undertaking a review would not conflict with other processes e.g. little or no risk of conflict with processes, such as litigation.

From his initial investigations under these criteria, Mr. Swinson concludes that an urgent review at this time is not justified, as:

there is not the prima facie evidence to justify an urgent review of the award of the contract to safeguard the public interest
there is limited opportunity for a review to lead to necessary action to protect the public's interest, and
there appears to be a risk that undertaking a review at this stage might become entangled with a formal legal process, as there may be possible litigation arising.

However, Mr. Swinson intends during 2007 to conduct a review of the first Connex contract; which will be timed to precede the process for re-tendering the scheduled bus service contract. Following the Deputy’s request, the scope of this review will now take into consideration the structure and working of the school bus contract, as well as that of the scheduled bus contract.

Commenting on the process of the reviews, Mr. Swinson said:

“It is quite right and proper for issues to be voiced, when a politician or member of the public has a concern that they believe needs to be raised in the public interest. Likewise, the authority of the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General has to follow its own rigorous and transparent policies in this regard.

“I am pleased that, in conversation with Deputy Le Herissier, we have been able to establish common ground, that the school bus contract will indeed be incorporated into my overall review, and that this will take place at the appropriate time, in relation to ongoing tendering processes for bus contracts in the future.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Chris Swinson, Comptroller & Auditor General
T: 441070 / 07771 947771
E: c.swinson@gov.je

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