North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today raised concerns regarding the multi-million pound deal the Welsh Government made earlier this year with Cardiff-based company FleetEV to supply electric vehicles.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates MS, in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament over how the Welsh Government is supporting the use of eco-friendly vehicles on the transport network in Wales, Mr Isherwood said he has been contacted by a North Wales Transport Professional who is troubled by the appointment of the Company and has questioned the procurement process involved.
Mr Isherwood said:
“After reports in February that Cardiff-based FleetEV had agreed a multi-million Pound deal with the Welsh Government to supply electric vehicles, I was contacted by a senior transport professional in North Wales, expressing concern that ‘the company had only been incorporated since October 2022, and with no trading figures and a net worth of just £6,316’.
“They added that this is ‘hardly an established financially stable company to go into such a big spend with’, and that ‘the sole director and 100 per cent shareholder has previously been the director of four companies, all of which have gone into administration’.
“Do you share this concern, will you investigate, and how do you respond to my constituent's concern that although the Welsh Government states that Welsh Government Commercial Delivery followed the Welsh Procurement Policy Statement, FleetEV's second year accounts were not posted until 28th December 2023, and the Welsh Government waited until early January, as the other tendering companies sat waiting, before proceeding with the procurement progress which led to the announcement that FleetEV was the successful bidder?”
The Cabinet Secretary responded:
“Can I thank Mark Isherwood for his questions regarding this matter? I'll examine the issues raised today and provide feedback to Members. There are some serious concerns that have been raised. They require investigation, I believe, and so I'll share the feedback as soon as I can with Members across the Chamber.”