Report censures LibDem council-housing contract

Trade unionists and councillors claim they have been vindicated after a report censured the handling of a council housing repairs contract.

Hull Council’s former Liberal Democrat administration was criticised for trying to award the contract to Lovell Partnerships in 2010, despite it costing £4.3m more and scoring lowest for quality. Former District Auditor Mark Kirkham’s report said the Lib Dem Cabinet took and then reaffirmed a decision that “may have been unlawful”. It added: “The lack of a clear recommendation from officers may have contributed to that lack of rigour. On the second occasion officers’ advice was seemingly ignored without clear reasons being recorded.”

The contract was jointly awarded to Kier and council-owned KWL, which is taking on the contract from April 1. Unison claimed concerns had been vindicated and Labour deputy Daren Hale said it vindicated an all-party decision to call in the contract.