TORIES MAKE A MESS OF £100+ MILLION COUNCIL HOUSING REPAIRS CONTRACT

10.47.43pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd May 2007

Housing repair mess

Despite customer satisfaction of 95% plus, the Tory leadership, without proper consultation, have decided to privatise this service. There is no justification for this, as the current system works well. And the LibDems have exposed serious failings in their procurement process. The Tories are terminating the existing contracts this year, despite the fact they were to run until 2009. The new contract will cost ratepayers £11 million per year over the next 15 years. And, whilst numerous companies have been allowed to bid, the council's own Direct Service Organisation (DSO) have been excluded. There is no evidence that by 'contracting out' Council repair services will produce savings. In fact, thanks to questioning by LibDem councillor Nigel Quinton, it was confirmed by officers of the Council that short term costs may rise, as current rates are low compared to market conditions! And don't take our word for it - check the published minutes of the cross party scrutiny committee... Labour's so-called opposition on the Council has been totally ineffective in challenging the Tories on this issue. In contrast, LibDems have used the council's scrutiny process - the first time a decision has been "called in" since the millennium - to expose the failings of the Tory leadership. The Leader of the council was forced to admit inadequate consultation and a lack of a business case for the change. And even when a poor excuse for a business case was finally produced, the Tories had no answer to LibDem questions when we raised it at April's full council meeting. Liberal Democrat Councillors see what is being proposed as ludicrous. Simon Archer says: "The Council intend wasting £150,000 on a procurement process (enquiry) that has clearly not been thought through.