Changes to the way Harrogate Borough Council carries out repairs to its vacated council homes is set to create a huge boost to the local economy and job prospects.

The proposals to create 11 new jobs by transferring this work to the in-house maintenance team, which also include opportunities for an apprenticeship scheme, have already been approved by Cabinet and just need final confirmation from the full council. Under the new scheme it will also be easier to make sure that local companies benefit from the council's spending power.


The in-house maintenance team was created in 2011 after the council's external contractor when into liquidation. Since then the team has produced savings to the council of £268,000.

Whilst the team carried out repair works on occupied council homes, an interim arrangement was entered into with the Leeds branch of Help Link Limited to carry out repairs on homes that are between tenancies until a review of the new team was carried out.

Mike Stack, the council's housing operations manager, said this has worked well but by bringing this work in house will remove the need to procure a contract and the use of directly employed staff to carry out all housing maintenance work will give greater control of the works.

He added: "It should also reduce the time properties remain unoccupied. We have consistently ranked highly in a national league for the speed of bringing vacated homes back into use and these new arrangements will help keep us in poll position."

(CD/JP)