Two more suspended in property repairs inquiry

Published on Tuesday 19 April 2011 20:40

TWO more members of city council staff have been suspended as part of an investigation into millions of pounds of property repair contracts.

The fresh suspensions at the council's property conservation department mean that eight employees - around a third of the department - are now away from their desks.

Lothian and Borders Police and auditor Deloitte are investigating alleged irregularities in the city's statutory notice system, which allows the council to carry out essential repairs to private properties and recoup the costs from their owners.

As the Evening News revealed on Monday, around 300,000 worth of roofing work carried out under the system will have to be redone because it does not meet the council's own standards.

Mark Turley, director of the council's services for communities department, has confirmed that the roofing problems form part of Deloitte's wider investigations into the department.

The rank of the newly- suspended employees is not known, but those known to have been questioned and suspended so far include a senior manager.

Councillor Stefan Tymkewycz, who has previously raised questions about over-charging and unnecessary work being carried out under statutory repair notices, said: "I met with independent investigators last Thursday and shared with them information that I have collated over the years. I've made allegations of over- pricing and unnecessary work being done and potential fraud."

The Evening News reported in November last year that one employee had been suspended and more were under investigation for irregularities in the department. At the end of March, the council confirmed that another five staff members had been suspended.

The council serves around 3000 statutory notices on properties in the Capital each year.

In the case of the roofing contracts, 13 properties underwent repairs with inadequate material. It has been alleged that council officers intentionally failed to scrutinise the building materials used, with the result that they were only two-thirds of the thickness required by the council.

Malcolm Chisholm MSP said: "This is a huge problem and these further suspensions suggest it is even more serious than we thought."

A council spokesman said: "A number of staff have been suspended as a precautionary measure."

Lothian and Borders Police said an inquiry was ongoing.