A revised strategy will now be developed, with a view to bringing it forward for member approval in due course.

The council said a significant amount of information was received during the standstill period, which ended up March 9, from both elected members and those participating in the tender process.

As a result, all candidates and tenderers (those who have submitted ESPDs/tenders) will be informed that the tender opportunity, in its current form, has been terminated.

A spokesperson for the Highland Council said: “The council is satisfied that it is reasonable and appropriate for us to make changes to the current procedure as currently exists.

“We also intend to have a further session with members in relation the revised strategy and tender process before issue.

“This is to try to provide the opportunity for members to raise any further residual issues, should there be any, and to allow for them to be discussed and addressed prior to issue.”

Highland Council now intends to issue a new tender to market, based on an alternative set of procurement criteria and a change in the evaluation approach, which incorporates the lessons learned by the local authority through the feedback received and the stand still period.