"Tendering Methods Could Undermine Authority"
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THE West Riding County Council's disregard of the licensing position when accepting tenders for the transport of school meals could be a means of undermining the functions Of the Licensing Authority.
This was submitted to the Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. J. H. A. Randolph, at Leeds, on Tuesday, when R. Robinson (Hansthwaite), Ltd., Harrogate, opposed an applica% non by Mr. L. G. Hoyland, Harrogate, for a new B licence to carry on a_ school meals service.
Mr. Hoylarid said in evidence that in his view a charge of 30s, a day for 7 hours' work wasan adequate rate showing 50 per cent, profit.
lender had been accepted and he had operated since September 2 under short-term licence. He was a newcomer to haulage and was the owner of a 40-acre farm.
Mr. J. Evans, for Robinsons, submitted that they had been school meals-contractors in Harrogate for 12 years. Despite allegations.' of late deliveries, a letter from the divisional
education officer stated that the company had given every satisfaction over this period.
Uneconomic Rate A licence was already in existence for this work and competition from outsiders was reducing the rate to an uneconomic figure. Even nine ,years ago Robinsons' rate was higher than Mr. Hoyland's 30s. a day.
Refusing the application, Mr. Randolph said that the real difficulty was that the considerations activating West Riding County Council's acceptance of tenders and those affecting the Licensing Authority were entirely different.
There was no proof that the existing haulier was unsatisfactory or had a monopoly and, although it was desirable that the lowest tender should be accepted when public money was being spent, there were other considerations to bear in mind.
TRANSPORT COMMITTEE STRONGLY CRITICIZED
STRONG criticism of their passenger transport committee was made atlast week's meeting of Portsmouth City Council over the question of the replacement of trolley buses by motorbuses. The council refused to receive a transport committee minute until more detailed figures of the financial aspects of the change were produced.
Cllr. Dr. M. Bresler, who opposed the committee's report, said that in the last 10 years trolleybuses had made a profit of £253,000, whilst motorbuses had lost 06,000.
He suggested that, in view of the fact that the transport committee did not propose to make any additions to their report, there should be an independent investigation of the undertaking's financial position.
His suggestion was ruled out of order and in place of it almost unanimous support was given to a motion that the transport committee's report "be not received.Only one councillor voted against this motion.