Morrison keeps Leeds contract after Mears deal
Leeds Council has announced it will continue working with Morrison following the takeover of the company by Mears, despite concerns raised last year.
The council said Morrison had achieved 90 per cent of repairs right first time in the second service improvement period in December 2012 and there was a 50 per cent improvement in performance on empty properties.
This follows London-listed contractor Mears taking over troubled Morrison in November last year from its former parent company Anglian Water.
Earlier in the year Morrison had been forced to sign an improvement plan for its £35 million repairs and maintenance contract with Leeds Council, and was at risk of losing the deal.
Leeds is now working with Mears to develop a new contract that will begin in April, although the council has taken major adaptations work back in house.
Peter Gruen, Leeds Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, planning and support services, said: ‘I am glad to announce that there has been a sea-change in the performance of the “new” Morrison.
‘I believe that the takeover of Morrison by Mears part way through the service improvement plan has made a substantial difference. Additional resources were brought into the Leeds contract at no extra cost to the council.
‘This has enabled much of the outstanding work to be cleared.’
