Bids set for combined council project
Contractors are being invited to bid for a £20million deal to repair roads in the Black Country.
Contractors are being invited to bid for a £20million deal to repair roads in the Black Country.
Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils are working together in a bid to cut the costs.
Currently each council is responsible for sorting out its own contracts, but the move to sharing the work is meant to save taxpayers money because they can pool resources.
The scheme is being led by Sandwell Council, which is seeking six firms for the job.
Existing deals, such as Walsall's £30million contract with Tarmac for road maintenance, will not be affected.
The contracts will see councils share approved contractors for specialist work such as pelican crossing installation.
Contractors have until August 3 to submit tenders.
Sandwell cabinet Councillor Mahboob Hussain said: "This is a major contract for routine and emergency repairs, car park construction, gully connections, block paving, minor highway improvements, traffic calming and the installation of pelican crossings.
"We hope to save money by working with our Black Country colleagues.
"The work is currently carried out by a panel of contractors, so this is not an example of outsourcing."