HOUSING chiefs were meeting tenants today to thrash out Rossendale's controversial council repairs contract.

The contract for day-to-day council house repairs is due to be re-awarded in January. Town hall staff have already received bids for 1998/99 and have drawn up a report for tenants' groups and councillors.

That report was being discussed by tenants' associations and a special meeting of the housing sub committee will decide who should get the contract later this month.

The present contract, operated by the council's direct labour organisation, has been severely criticised by tenants' groups.

In August, a woman employee was disciplined after it was found she had falsified records to give the impression jobs which were over-running had been completed on time.

And the chairman of the Haslingden estates management board, Stephen Birtwell, claimed they were being overcharged for repairs and the DLO was slow to refund overpaid money.

Councillors are also grappling with a massive overspend on the repairs budget and lack of investment through government restrictions on town hall spending.

A final decision on the new contract is due to be ratified by council on December 17 and be awarded on January 5.

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