Liverpool direct labour threat lifted

Exclusive by Michael Gordon



The immediate threat of closure to Liverpool City Council's building maintenance Direct Service Organisation (DSO) appears to have been lifted.

Initial figures, which are still subject to audit, indicate that the DSO has made a small surplus on trading for the year 1997/8. However, a £700 million backlog of council house repairs forced the council to relinquish ownership of over 40,000 homes in the city (CJ 1 July 1998).

Housing companies have taken over the management of virtually all council owned and rented homes throughout Liverpool, in an attempt to avoid the estimated cost of repairs and refurbishment. Liberal Democrat leaders had pledged that not a single home would remain under council control by the year 2003.

Legal advice obtained by the authority confirms that the performance of the DSO complies with the Government's directive, which said that the service should at least break even or face closure.

Council leader Mike Storey said: "This is very encouraging news. We now appear to be in a position to plan our building maintenance service without the pressure of closure."





"We will approach the building maintenance service with quality as our top priority.

"The people of Liverpool expect and demand efficient maintenance services. I am absolutely determined that this council shall deliver them."