COUNCILLORS will put themselves at the heart of contract decisions after coming under fire over the tendering of bus and home care services.

Members of Durham County Council want to be involved in the early stages of awarding commercial contracts to help officers to make decisions, rather than pick up the pieces if something goes wrong.

The authority launched a review of how it awards all its commercial contracts when its proposal to change the company that runs Durham’s park-andride bus service caused outrage.

The council’s preferred bidder for the five-year contract was Arriva, but rival companies Scarlet Band, which has operated the service since 2005, and Go North-East, complained that the selection system was flawed.

The issue has been referred to cabinet next week.

The council was also forced to examine home care service contracts under similar circumstances.

Official Darren Knowd told a working party yesterday that the council could create a code of practice, establish an online database to alert interested companies about forthcoming tenders and publish annual contract plans.

He said early councillor involvement would help to establish priorities such as public and political concerns and the importance of cost.

Councillor Brian Avery said: “I agree wholeheartedly with councillors being involved at an early stage. We should not learn about concerns from the papers and general public.”

Members also agreed that the council’s tendering and procurement process needed greater transparency and accountability.

Coun Terry Batson said people needed faith that the council makes the right decisions, not only based on cost, but on the overall benefits for the community.

Martin Harris, commercial director at Go North-East, and Graeme Torrance, owner of Scarlet Band, both welcomed the decision to refer the park-and-ride contract to cabinet.