£2,000 cost for path made of five paving slabs
Dudley Council is to review its purchasing procedures after it was revealed it can cost more than £2,000 to build a path made of just five paving slabs
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A handrail across two steps was also said to cost more than £1,400.
The cost was revealed as the borough’s cabinet met this week to discuss its £10 million housing strategy.
Councillor Cathryn Bayton said: “I was absolutely outraged after attending a tenants’ association meeting last night at a high-rise block in my ward, to find out that a handrail across two steps was going to cost over £1,400.
“A path was also going to cost in excess of £2,000 when you are talking of about four or five flagstones.”
She added: “So we are talking about value for money, can we really pay some attention to the small contracts?
“I’m not talking about the really big stuff but the small contracted out work where I think we can save an awful lot of money.”
Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for procurement, transformation and commercialisation, in response said he was investigating how the authority can make savings when ordering materials from its supplier, Jewson builder merchants.
“Value for money has been in my cross-hairs for quite a while in terms of when getting these sort of items,” he said.
“One of the outcomes of my visit to Jewsons with officers, is that quite a few times there is an over-specification of items.
“What happens is because there are certain requirements for handrails in regards social care provision or needs, we tend to get the same handrail quoted to us even for jobs when you don’t necessarily require that standard.
“So there needs to be a review with Jewsons and that is what contract managers are focusing on.”
Councillor Bayton, speaking after the meeting, said the council should investigate how it could employ local contractors who could charge lower prices.
“If someone was to quote me £1,400 to put in a set of handrails for two steps, I, like everyone else would go elsewhere. So we can get value for money but also get social value by supporting local businesses,” she said.
Jewsons have been contacted for comment.