Council Housing Repairs Partnership

Plans are underway to make the repairs service to council homes more efficient and cost-effective than ever.

At present, the service is delivered through a partnering agreement between the council’s own repairs team and Mears Ltd. Proposals are now being considered for all maintenance to be carried out by one company.

Following a full and frank discussion with the council’s housing repairs employees, a report on this proposal will go to Cabinet on Tuesday 7 November.

If this option is pursued there will be a period of market testing for companies to present their bids for the contract, and tenants will be involved in any selection process. The new contract will also give the council a chance to modernise the maintenance work programme, with an aim to deliver further service improvements.

Councillor Roger Trigg, Executive Member for Housing said: “We have promised in our Corporate Plan to increase efficiency in all aspects of the housing maintenance service and this idea has been identified as a possible means to achieve that. I would, however, like to emphasise that at this date no official decision has been made and we are looking very carefully at the options.”