Contractor sues council over lighting contract worth more than £600k

A lighting contractor has launched legal action against North Lanarkshire Council over the award of a lighting installation contract worth several hundred thousand pounds, the Motherwell Times has reported.

Lightways (Contractors) Limited launched the action after the local authority – Scotland's fourth largest council – awarded the contract to WJ Harte Construction.

The successful bidder had put in a tender for £703,340, while Lightways had offered to do the work for £623,756.

The Motherwell Times said the council had told Lightways that its bid had been rejected because the lantern it planned to use did not meet the necessary “photometric performance”.

The aggrieved bidder’s managing director, Jim Hornall, told the paper: “We do not want to be seen as litigious but although the council offered to discuss the matter they never fulfilled this offer when we requested dates and times.”

In a statement issued to Local Government Lawyer, Graham Mackay, head of roads and transportation at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “We have investigated the company’s complaint and are satisfied the procurement process for the lighting contract was legally compliant. We have also advised the company of the reason their tender did not comply with the specification for the contract. We will defend the legal action that Lightways have raised.”

A hearing is expected to take place in December.