Official accused in home repair probe

And an inquiry into the council's property conservation section is said to have uncovered a catalogue of fraud allegations over home repair work, with residents claiming that their costs snowballed out of control, that they were billed for work which was never done, that unnecessary work was done and that extra repairs were carried out without consultation.

In one case, 15 neighbours were told they would share a 300,000 bill for stone repairs, but three years later the work is still not finished and the bill is over 1 million and rising.

One council employee was suspended last November as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in 4.5 million worth of property repair contracts.

And the Evening News revealed last month that five more staff had been put under "precautionary suspension".

Statutory notices allow the council to carry out essential repairs to private properties and then recoup the costs from the owners. Around 3000 statutory repair notices are served on properties each year.

It is alleged an official released a computer password to a contractor, giving him access to a database which holds bidding information for millions of pounds worth of home repairs work.

A two-pronged probe is now under way into a possible breach of practice over how building repair contracts were awarded and also how homeowners have been charged.

One source was today quoted saying the probe threatens to expose alleged corruption and malpractice on a large scale.

A council spokesman said: "The council has commissioned an independent investigation into a wide range of matters relating to the property conservation service. We are dealing with a number of complaints but are not in a position to comment on specific cases. We would re-assure everyone who makes a complaint that it will be thoroughly investigated and ask for their patience."