Key information
Request reference number: MGLA080421-0236
Date of response:
Summary of request
- Background: In the Internal Audit published by the GLA in November 2014, it is described how the selection criteria for bidders in the Royal Albert Dock procurement process were changed. Whose decision was it to change the criteria? Please be entirely specific. Who was responsible for this change?
- Please provide details (notes, minutes, diary) of the meeting held on the 20th September 2011 at ABP's office in Beijing between ABP and various GLA/LDA officers, including Caroline Newton, Steven Kennard and others, and Jeff Cao of L&P. The nature of these notes is specified in the Internal Audit mentioned above (https://bit.ly/3dGXBWW) which also makes clear that such notes were definitely made.
- Background: On the 28th of September 2011 an event was held at a hotel in Beijing owned by ABP, entitled, "Chinese Enterprises Going Abroad (Opportunities in the UK) Beijing High Level Conference." The event was "co-hosted" by London & Partners, and both London & Partners and the "Mayor of London Chinese Representative Office" were listed as an "organisers." What was London & Partners' role in this event? Did they support the event financially? Did this event have anything whatsoever to do with the Royal Albert Dock? Was any risk assessment conducted in relation to L&P's involvement? It would seem wise to conduct such a risk assessment, because London & Partners were at the same time helping to market the Royal Albert Dock opportunity to ABP, at whose hotel the event took place, and whose representatives attended and featured prominently at the event.
- Did other potential bidders for the Royal Albert Dock host such events in conjunction with L&P? Did the Foreign & Commonwealth Office or UKTI have any role in this event?
- Background: According to Edward Lister (see 'Edward Lister Letter to Len Duvall', attached), London & Partners were asked by the GLA to call 47 Chinese companies, ask each three questions, and relay to the GLA the responses. Who drew up this list of companies? Why were only 47 companies selected? What was the rationale behind the selection of these 47 companies for surveying? Please provide the anonymised results of this survey.
Related documents
MGLA080421-0236 - EIR response
Useful links
EIR - Royal Albert Docks Regeneration
FOI - Royal Albert Dock Contract
FOI - Royal Albert Dock principal contractors
Independent investigation into Royal Albert Dock tendering process
Royal Albert Dock - London & Partners
Royal Albert Dock - London & Partners
DD1498 Deed of Variation, Royal Albert Dock
DD2076 Royal Albert Dock – Second Deed of Variation
MD1471 Royal Albert Dock Section 106 & Section 156 Agreements
MD1591 Disposal of 4 acres of land at Royal Albert Dock
Review of Royal Albert Dock procurement exercise under the microscope