A housing service for older and disabled people in the north-east will be provided entirely by Aberdeenshire Council from next Wednesday.
The care and repair scheme – which provides adaptations, improvements and repairs to owner-occupiers and tenants of private landlords in the region – has been provided by Castlehill Housing Association for the past 17 years.
It is open to residents aged 60 and over and people with disabilities.
A decision to bring the service under the wing of the council was made at the most recent meeting of the social work and housing committee.
Aberdeenshire Council’s head of housing, Douglas Edwardson, said: “A recent procurement exercise revealed the provision of the care and repair service would result in significant increase in costs if the service continued to be delivered in the same way.
“This together with the lack of competition in the tendering process led to us looking at other options.
“The appraisal showed the service can be delivered to the same high standard by the council at a reduced cost and we therefore have decided to bring the service in-house.”
He added that the council wanted to thank Castlehill Housing Association for delivering the work over the last 17 years, adding: “The decision to take the service in-house is no reflection on the quality of service they delivered, which was excellent.”