by Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
Calls have been made to bring housing provision back into Powys County Council ’s control, as construction giant Kier continues to face financial problems.
PCC and Kier work together in a joint venture, Heart of Wales Property Services, and look after 5,400 homes and 630 properties in the county, including many in Newtown and Montgomeryshire.
Continued problems with Kier’s share prices have raised fears that the company could become the next Carillion and collapse.
This would create problems for the public sector not just in Powys but across the UK.
Plaid Cymru group leader, county councillor Elwyn Vaughan, who represents Glantwymyn has already tabled questions to ask about PCC reviewing its links with Kier.
He is now going a step further and calling for the joint-venture to be scrapped.
Cllr Vaughan said: “There are further concerns about the Kier joint venture with Powys Council, Heart of Wales Property Services.
“The time has come for Powys to cease this partnership with Kier, to bring the work in-house, under democratic control with the ability to sort matters out.
“There are severe concerns about outsourcing companies in the UK following the collapse of Carillion.”
A spokesman for Powys County Council suggested that the announcement that Kier had just been appointed to build new schools in Cambridgeshire showed confidence in the company.
Powys County Council Director of environment and board member of HOWPS, Nigel Brinn, said that responses regarding Kier would be provided at the next Full Council meeting in January.
