Norwich City Council has announced the multi-million pound contract that has been awarded to Norse Commercial Services Limited for vital work on all the authority's council homes will go live this summer.

Later this year Norse will take over responsibility for providing housing repairs and maintenance, void repairs (bringing council homes back into use) and disabled adaptations.

The contract, which is for a five-year period, with the option to extend for a further five years, is worth about £8 million per year.

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With a target start date of August, the mobilisation period is now underway for the transfer of contracts from the existing providers of the work in order that the process is as smooth as possible.

At present, work within the three contractual areas is being provided through temporary contracts that were set up following the collapse of Connaught (the company which previously supplied most of the council’s public-facing services) in September 2010.

Alan Waters, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for resources, said: "When the new contract begins, a very skilled and experienced workforce will transfer across.

"These people will be at the forefront of providing vital council services for Norwich residents.

"The council is already working closely with everyone involved to ensure that the transfer of contracts is as smooth as possible."

The 75-strong workforce currently carrying out the temporary contractual work will retain their jobs, with TUPE applying, once the new contract begins.

(CD)