LOCAL jobs and services have been saved after multi-million pound contracts were won by Bury Council's in-house team.

The local authority saw off private sector competition to win deals worth £5.5 million a year covering everything from repairs and maintenance of council homes, highways, and street lighting to civic catering.

Council leader Derek Boden said: "Our in-house teams have consistently proved that when it comes to offering value for money they are unbeatable.

"Despite the difficulties of compulsory competitive tendering we have shown that we can match anything that the private sector has to offer."

Bury's department of competitive services successfully bid for the £2 million a year repairs and maintenance contract to council houses which will begin on April 1 and run for three years. The department has also been awarded the £1.8 million a year highways and street lighting maintenance contract which will run for two years, and has retained the £160,000 civic catering contract for the next five years.

The fourth contract to be collected, by housing services, is a £1.5 million management deal which involves a range of services from rent collection to lettings.

Councillor Tony Isherwood, chairman of competitive services, congratulated the council's workforce.

"We have a wonderful team working for us and I am sure that

residents in Bury will continue to enjoy first class service delivery."

And Coun Paul Nesbit, housing spokesman, said: "We have worked hard to ensure that the housing management contract was retained by the council.

"I want to praise all concerned and stress that it is our intention to continue to work with our tenants and their representatives to ensure we provide the services that they want and deserve."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.