Adelaide City Council to conduct second review of e-scooter tender process as ombudsman called to investigate
Adelaide City Council has announced an external investigation of its e-scooter tender process.
City
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Adelaide City Council will engage an “external advisor” to conduct a second review of its controversial e-scooter tender process.
Council CEO Mark Goldstone has agreed to the review in compliance with the Local Government Act after formal requests from Beam and Lime that missed out on two year operating contracts.
In a letter circulated by Mr Goldstone and seen by The Advertiser, he wrote the council would be “engaging an external advisor to conduct the Section 270 review”.
The news comes as SABest MLC Frank Pangallo has called on State Ombudsman Wayne Lines to investigate the process that has faced strong criticisms from the disappointed scooter companies.
His call has been backed by an Adelaide city councillor.
The council has already conducted and concluded an internal inquiry into the process that found no wrongdoing on behalf of council staff.
Mr Pangallo said it was unacceptable for the council to oversee another inquiry into its own decisions.
“It simply doesn’t pass the pub test,” he said.
“Beam has quite rightly raised some genuine and serious questions with me about the probity of the tender.
“They have also highlighted some glaring and worrying inconsistencies in the way all the parties have been treated.”
Mr Pangallo said the council had denied him access last year, through a Freedom of Information request, to “crucial documentation and correspondence” about its dealings with Lime.
“There is far too much secrecy when there needs to be disclosure and transparency,” he said.
“I have long held concerns about the way both the council and state government conducted themselves in the introduction of e-scooters in the CBD – and in their inability to enforce very basic laws and regulations.”
Mr Pangallo said during a road test of a Lime scooter last year he reached speeds of about 25km/h – 10km/h above the city speed limit of 15km/h.
The council announced in December it had awarded contracts to Neuron and RIDE.
Since then, Lime and Beam have both denounced the council’s decision, saying they had “serious concerns”.
Beam has accused council staff of “prejudicial behaviour” and acting to “corrode the interests of justice”.
Lime said the council’s process bordered on “incompetent”.
It has called on local government minister, Stephan Knoll, to order an independent review.
The company told The Advertiser allit wanted was “an opportunity for a fair and complete evaluation of our application”.
Adelaide Councillor Phil Martin said he endorsed the call for the ombudsman to intervene.
“The days of people investigating themselves is long past,” Mr Martin said.
“If the administration, the Lord Mayor (Sandy Verschoor) and the controlling faction (Team Adelaide) will not allow an independent investigation then it is entirely appropriate for a member of parliament to call on an independent agency to do so.
“I make clear I have no knowledge of wrongdoing. However the complainants have a strong feeling they will not face a fair hearing from council administration.”