Why did Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority pay a PR agency £650 + VAT a day?

Why did Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority pay a PR agency £650 + VAT a day?

Why did Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority pay a PR agency £650 + VAT a day?

                                                           

This year I went to the offices of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (previously called Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority) where I inspected various invoices and contracts that relate to the 2014/15 financial year.

Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority deal with the rubbish collected by each council on Merseyside, provide thirteen Household Waste Recycling Centres (the ones on the Wirral are the Bidston Household Waste Recycling Centre in Wallasey Bridge Road, Clatterbridge Household Waste Recycling Centre in Mount Road and West Kirby Household Waste Recycling Centre in Greenbank Road) and are also responsible for closed landfill sites such as the one at Bidston Moss.

Their 2014/15 budget was £68.6 million which comes from a levy on each on the Merseyside councils which each have to pay based on a tonnage basis. Councillor Irene Williams (Labour) and Councillor Steve Williams (Conservative) represent Wirral Council on the Merseyside Waste and Recycling Authority.

In 2005 after a tender exercise MRWA (then called Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority) appointed Daniel Harris Associates for “the provision of public relations and communications services for Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority”. DH Communications Limited (also known as Daniel Harris Associates or DHA) won the tender exercise with a bid of £650 per a day (see letter below).

Letter to Daniel Harris Associates from Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority confirming they have won tender for PR contract 13th December 2005
Letter to Daniel Harris Associates from Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority confirming they have won tender for PR contract 13th December 2005

The tender that DHA won was for a three-year contract from 1st November 2005 to the 1st November 2008. DHA were paid £25,200 a year for 3 and a half days work each month. However at some point in 2009 Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority realised that “The contract with DHA was not reviewed in line with its prescribed timetable resulting in the continuation of the contract beyond the specified term.” (see pages below).

Decision to extend DHA contract in 2009 by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority page 1 of 2
Decision to extend DHA contract in 2009 by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority page 1 of 2
Decision to extend DHA contract in 2009 by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority page 2 of 2
Decision to extend DHA contract in 2009 by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority page 2 of 2

Carl Beer is Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority’s Chief Executive. The contract was retrospectively extended from the 1st November 2008 to 1st November 2009 and an extra 12 months was added which extended the contract to 2010.

In 2014 there were a number of emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority in relation to how DHA would be charging Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority in future.

Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority were at this stage paying DHA a £1,625 monthly retainer. However DHA wrote in an email that they felt “the authority has not always maximised the value of the fee it pays to us: i.e. it has made minimal call on our services”. They set out a number of options:

Option One

DHA estimated that over the last two to three years that the average cost of the work Merseyside Waste and Recycling Authority had asked them to do was £990 + VAT a month (whilst they were being paid a £1,625 monthly retainer). Option one would keep the monthly retainer but reduce it to £990 + VAT instead.

Option Two

DHA would charge Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority on a project basis at £600 + VAT a day.

Option Three

DHA would charge Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority a monthly retainer of £600 + VAT a month, but if they needed more work from DHA then they would be charged £600 a day.

Merseyside Waste and Recycling Authority decided to go for option 2 (from April 2015). The emails that go into the detail of these negotiations are below.

Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 1 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 1 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 2 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 2 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 3 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 3 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 4 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 4 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 5 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority Page 5 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 6 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 6 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 7 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 7 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 8 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 8 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 9 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 9 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 10 of 10
Emails between DHA and Merseyside Recyling and Waste Authority Page 10 of 10

Below are a number of the invoices submitted to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority during the 2014/15 financial year.

DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 1
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 1
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 2
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 2
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 3
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 3
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 4
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 4
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 5
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 5
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 6
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 6
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 7
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 7
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 8
DHA Communications Ltd invoice to Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority invoice 8

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Author: John Brace

New media journalist from Birkenhead, England who writes about Wirral Council. Published and promoted by John Brace, 134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH. Printed by UK Webhosting Ltd t/a Tsohost, 113-114 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, England, SL1 4PF.

16 thoughts on “Why did Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority pay a PR agency £650 + VAT a day?”

  1. Mr Brace, in order to answer the question you pose, again you would have to see all the Documentation in a signed and sealed format (Correspondence before Contract; Tenders, Invitation to Treat, Consideration, emails, letters between parties, Contracts, why the contract was extended, etc).
    It is no simple matter a Contract as already explained to you by Kevin Adderley and his friends (Ha, Ha).
    A Contract is basically in a Format as follows;
    Offer, Acceptance, Consideration, Contractual Intention and Form, there are Express and Implied Terms (Work Employer/Employee Contracts).
    Expiration, Termination, Vitiation and Frustration. Courts Normally take an Omnibus Approach (Reasonable Man).
    There are various ways of Termination, Vitiation and Frustration (Escaping a Contract). and all manner of Statutes Covering all forms of Contracts (Third Parties Act 1999, etc).

    Edited by JB 29.10.17 to remove incorrect link.

    1. I’ve read the tenders for this contract this morning, details from the interviews of the shortlisted companies etc.

      By contract people usually mean and I’m referring to the signed agreement between two or more parties.

      The rest of what you refer to are tender documents, such as invitation to tender etc.

      1. Mr Brace, In order to Have and agreement ( Signed Contract) by two or more parties you have to have the Basics Offer, Acceptance, etc, I did not wish to confuse Mr Adderley or Lambert anymore than they say they are Ha,Ha.

        Edited by JB 29.10.17 to remove broken link.

  2. Mr Brace, let me say this. A contract is brought to you, it has all the relevant details on it of one Party, but the Dates are different to make you think that a Contract is for Covering an earlier time, the bits the other party have to agree to are missing to be filled in later by the other party, with money already placed into an account. No Contract (See Bill Norman) one they did earlier (Corrupt Payment)

    A complaint is made and then more money is placed in the same account, not requested and not received by the person to whom it was addressed in order to let two Vulnerable Adults suffer at the hands of this gang of shit.

    The Person then claims he has been compromised when in actual fact, it was a Further Corrupt Payment, Bribery and Corruption, with a view as stated to leave two vulnerable adults unprotected (Undue Influence). A CEO is then told of this and he starts in writing trying to influence the situation.

    A Police Officer is spoken too and he says that it is the actions of a “Strapped for Cash Council” A Contract ” NO ” A Conspiracy Yes in order to Deceive, Fraud and Pervert the Course of Justice. If anybody in authority ever gets there head out of their Arse and does something about this and other matters the Detection Rate will go through the Roof

  3. G’day John and Reps

    Are you talking about that idiot Adderley that thinks the Wirral “Funny” Bizz contracts were very complicated.

    Is that why they weren’t signed.

    I’ll never forget him standing lying in public at Gra Gra’s farce of a public meeting on 8 October 2014 into Big, ISUS and Working Neighbourhoods.

    It was like him finding oil in Kev and Stella’s Stagnant Wirral Waters.

    Eureka I have found a signed contract.

    I didn’t see him show anyone the moniker though I wonder which fool it was?

    Kev you halfwit there has always been oil in the Mersey.

    What you have found though Kev is better than oil, 66 impotent clowncillors that won’t have you treated the way you deserve.

    They are a disgrace to the taxpaying public.

    God bless Stuart Kelly.

    Ooroo

    James

    I bet he is missing Demigog and is worried he will be next. It would be worth a couple of hundred to pay him off.

  4. Good Evening to you Mr Brace and Mr G, why pay him off when you could deal with him through the Courts and then the money would certainly be put to better use and just think of the “Stats and Savings” it would lead too, No more Stella or Wirral Waters or playing the Regeneration game Badly. Stats and Savings that is another thing that is wanted at WMBC.

    Bring in the Police and Administration

  5. Alot of people work hard for a living and then there are those that just have money thrown at them for doing nothing, I think this one falls into the later of the two!

  6. G’day John

    The simple answer to your question.

    Why did Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority pay a PR agency £650 + VAT a day?

    Cos like Wirral Borough Clowncil they are a WASTE AUTHORITY.

    Ooroo

    James

    What’s my prize John what’s my prize, what’s my prize?

    1. Well thanks for the joke. Having carefully considered your professional background when considering the prize, I give you the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority’s contract with SITA Sembcorp Limited (as supplied by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority to me in response to a request).

      Basically it’s a £1 billion+ contract agreed by councillors to send Merseyside’s rubbish on a train to Teeside, burn it and use the heat to generate electricity.

      Page 206 has a section on whistleblowing. Bear in mind just the definitions of terms in the contract go on for 111 pages!!!

      Page 593 (commercially sensitive information) explains why large parts are blacked out.

      1. Thanks John

        Less than 90 words on whisleblowing.

        They don’t waste words do they?

        Ooroo

        James

        Didn’t even look at commercially sensitive blacked out bits I’ve seen enough at Wirral.

        No wonder Labor and Tories are happy the way the country (doesn’t) works.

  7. G’day John

    I’ll let you read it yourself if you haven’t already.

    From the rubbish paper from over Kev and Stella’s Stagnant Wirral Waters with Wirral’s ace reporter dweeb in the tweed jacket that is in “Ankles” pocket.

    Bumper payout for former council boss

    What is wrong with this country John?

    Ooroo

    James

    1. That’s the same boss that turned down my requests to film public meetings of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority before the law was changed.

      What the article doesn’t mention is that all councillors in a public body now get a vote on severance payments of over £100,000.

  8. G’day John

    Talking about the dweeb in the tweed jacket will he be applying for the job that has become vacant this week.

    He has all the qualifications sucking up to them they must owe him.

    Ooroo

    James

  9. G’day John

    Just thinking about the Fudgit and Risk It Committee and that FOI of yours.

    What else do you do when you are four years unemployed after unsuccessful whistle blowing at 6.30am on a Sunday morning?

    I hope the committee isn’t the joke that is on their site.

    “Crabbapple” of Private Eye notoriety who will use and abuse anyone to win an election. Chairperson…says it all.

    “Abbott” looks like he has been in the monastery herbal wine for the last decade or more and always looks in a hurry to get to the pub.

    “The Raving Loony” he will probably turn up if Gra Gra phones him and invites him.

    An “Angel” that is a Davies, not a “Dill” I hope. Where did she pop up from?
    Oh that’s right the rat that is “Clowncillor Doughnut” assassinated Stuart Kelly and gave her his seat. What a de(cent man)adshit.

    Then there is the child clowncillor with two christian names he probably does surnames in year 3. “The Pretend Friend” is his mentor…enough said!

    Then of course there is poor old gilChrist who mumbles about Wirral “Funny” Bizz but is just another impotent clowncillor.

    So Johnny boy no wonder Adderley and Armstrong and the rest of the scumbag Wirral people are untouchable and can do anything they want.

    Ooroo

    James

    They must all just laugh when Ecca turns up with his handler.

    Those great days of “Ankles” we have lessons to learn lessons to learn and some whistleblower get courted and feted are just memories of an even more dire committee..

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