COUNCILLORS are calling on Wiltshire Council to hold an independent inquiry into what went wrong with the disastrous £150m highways contract with Balfour Beatty Living Places

The council confirmed on Wednesday (Sept 2) that it had come to a mutual agreement with BBLP to end the heavily criticised contract to maintain the county’s roads and streets two years early.

BBLP took on the five-year contract with Wiltshire Council in 2013 and has been heavily criticised about its performance ever since, with towns and villages across the county unhappy with its grass-cutting provision.

However, the contract will now end in March next year and Liberal Democrat councillor Jon Hubbard said he will now put forward a motion for the next full council meeting for an independent inquiry into what went wrong.

“I’m going to be putting in a motion for the next council meeting asking for an inquiry into how we were able to get ourselves into such as mess with this contract,” said Cllr Hubbard.

“We have an administration that has put price above everything else and didn’t do due diligence. If someone is offering to do something for less money than they are able to do the work, it is always going to end badly.

“This contract should never have been awarded and I have a briefing paper saying that there is a confidentiality agreement in place, so there is a chance the people of Wiltshire will never know how much this cost them.

“It has been an unmitigated disaster and there should be an inquiry as we need to hear the truth about what went wrong. It wasn’t right from day one, but the council backed itself into a corner.”

The council’s scrutiny committee investigated the contract just three months after it was awarded due to the volume of complaints and said it was “performing satisfactorily”, but highlighted areas for improvement.

In March, the council confirmed that Balfour Beatty had subcontracted all the grass cutting work throughout Wiltshire to former highways contractor The Landscape Group, who will continue to do the grounds maintenance and street scene services during a “phased transfer plan”.

The council said it will take on a number of existing subcontractor agreements before starting a new tender process, but Trowbridge councillor Jeff Osborn has echoed Cllr Hubbard’s call for an inquiry.

“I think that we need to have an inquiry as we need to see how we got in such a mess,” said Cllr Osborn. “I always had my doubts about Balfour Beatty’s ability from when they first started the contract.

Seasonal workers for The Landscape Group were informed on Wednesday that they would no longer be needed, with full time employees told they will find out their fate in six weeks.

One worker told the Wiltshire Times: “We had a seasonal contract until Sept 25, but they are now getting rid of us on Friday (Sept 4). About 10 of us have been told we are no longer needed.”

In a joint statement, Wiltshire Council and Balfour Beatty said: “Wiltshire Council and Balfour Beatty (BBLP) have mutually agreed to end their contract after it became clear that the contractual arrangements were no longer appropriate for either party.

“The current contract will end on 31 March 2016. A phased transfer plan to minimise disruption to the service is now in place.

“A number of existing subcontractor agreements will transfer to Wiltshire Council for continuity in major resurfacing, ground maintenance and grass cutting services. The council will now seek a service provider to start a new contract on 1 April 2016.

“In the meantime Balfour Beatty will remain responsible for street lighting maintenance and highways activity such as temporary repair works, paths and cycle schemes, and will continue to work closely with Wiltshire Council.”