COUNCILLORS have pledged to closely scrutinise the award of a potential new £1.5million, 15-year contract to maintain council properties.

Many tenants in Thurrock Council social housing properties are currently living in damp and mouldy homes.

Two new contracts are set to be awarded as the current contract for social housing maintenance provided by Mears and a gas maintenance contract held by Aaron Services come to an end over the next two years.

Councillors who have been on the receiving end of grievances raised by tenants living in "horrible" conditions, questioned a proposed increase of the contract term from ten to 15 years.

Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West and a local journalist, called for a working party of councillors to be set up to consider all the options.

He said: "I've dealt with a number of complaints about Aaron that provide gas services and on many occasions the general repairs and planned maintenance provided by Mears. I therefore have considerable knowledge of the level of service currently offered in Thurrock and I'm deeply unhappy about the number of incidents brought to my attention.

"This stems, I believe, from massive complacency within those two companies. That comes from two things – poor management and poor diligence by Thurrock Council and the fact these contracts are too long and the contractors are not being held accountable.

"There have been many incidents where the level of service has been poor and the level of customer engagement with the tenants by the suppliers and in some instances the council, has been appalling,

"What concerns me is we're simply looking to get more of the same rather than seek innovative, practical ways to improve the service.

Councillors also raised concerns Inadequate supervision of subcontractors

Cllr Joycelyn Redsell, the Conservative representing for Little Thurrock Blackshots ward. said: "You don't always get what you pay for and some residents feel that.

"You see that with Blackshots flats. There in such a state of mould and god knows what. You wouldn't want any of your family to live in there because it's horrible. Mears can go in there and as we've heard many times they've just gone over the top with paint and it's all come back again.

"Mears pass out to contractors and contractors then it gets further and further away from Mears and they don't have any control over who is going out. That's where we see the bad parts."