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| Four sacked after Edinburgh housing repairs probe | Four sacked after Edinburgh housing repairs probe |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Four members of staff at Edinburgh City Council have been dismissed over an alleged multi-million pound housing repair scam, BBC Scotland has learned. | Four members of staff at Edinburgh City Council have been dismissed over an alleged multi-million pound housing repair scam, BBC Scotland has learned. |
| It is understood the workers were sacked after an internal investigation into the way contracts were awarded for work relating to statutory notices. | It is understood the workers were sacked after an internal investigation into the way contracts were awarded for work relating to statutory notices. |
| About 500 people had complained about statutory housing repairs with concerns including costs and unnecessary work. | About 500 people had complained about statutory housing repairs with concerns including costs and unnecessary work. |
| When the allegations came to light last year, at least 15 staff were suspended. | |
| The council said it would investigate all outstanding 513 disputes, which include alleged bribery, overcharging, unnecessary and poor quality work. | The council said it would investigate all outstanding 513 disputes, which include alleged bribery, overcharging, unnecessary and poor quality work. |
| Edinburgh City Council uses a system of statutory notices to ensure essential repairs are carried out on its historic tenements. | Edinburgh City Council uses a system of statutory notices to ensure essential repairs are carried out on its historic tenements. |
| Under the statutory notice system, Edinburgh City Council can intervene to organise repair work on private properties when the owners of shared buildings cannot reach agreement. | Under the statutory notice system, Edinburgh City Council can intervene to organise repair work on private properties when the owners of shared buildings cannot reach agreement. |
| It is the only city in the UK where council surveyors can arrange the work through approved contractors and recoup the cash from owners. | It is the only city in the UK where council surveyors can arrange the work through approved contractors and recoup the cash from owners. |
| The local authority also receives 15% of the final bill. | The local authority also receives 15% of the final bill. |
| The value of statutory notices issued by council surveyors has increased dramatically in recent years, from £9.2m in 2005 to more than £30m in 2010 | The value of statutory notices issued by council surveyors has increased dramatically in recent years, from £9.2m in 2005 to more than £30m in 2010 |
| Independent investigations by Deloitte, ordered by the council, and the fraud unit at Lothian and Borders Police are also currently under way. | Independent investigations by Deloitte, ordered by the council, and the fraud unit at Lothian and Borders Police are also currently under way. |