ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Since 1979, the introduction of competition for public service provision has been a central feature of the Conservative government’s microeconomic policy. By 1988 the method of policy implementation for local authorities was through ‘compulsory competitive tendering’ (CCT): central government legislation requiring authorities to subject a range of services traditionally supplied in-house by direct labour to periodic competition from the private sector. Though local councils continue to pay for the services, through the competitive tendering (CT) process they could subsequently be provided by private contractors. The range of activities currently subsumed under CCT legislation are building and highway construction and maintenance (Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980), and refuse collection, street cleaning, building cleaning, schools and welfare catering, other catering, vehicle maintenance, and the management of sports and leisure facilities (Local Government Act 1988). Indications are that the government intends to extend mandatory competition to include various professional activities (architecture, buildings inspection, etc.) in future legislative initiatives (HM Treasury 1991:24).
