SNP Housing Minister urged to probe dodgy data claims against firm in line for £1.8b council deal

Scotland’s housing minister is being urged to investigate dodgy data claims by a firm in line for a £1.8billion contract. Paul McLennan MSP has been contacted by a whistleblower asking him to take on the probe of Mears LLP, amid fears of a cover-up at North Lanarkshire Council.

The repairs and maintenance firm – a third owned by the authority – has already been reported to watchdog Audit ­Scotland. It is alleged to have altered figures to make it look as if jobs were finished quicker than they were to meet targets, known as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), set by the council.

The whistleblower asked McLennan to act after the Scottish Housing ­Regulator said it did not have the powers to conduct a probe.

In an email, the whistleblower told him: “I have passed on evidence that Mears are adjusting completion dates to achieve housing KPIs for NLC.

“The council are also complicit as they are aware of what has been going on. Audit Scotland agreed the evidence is sufficient to warrant an investigation. However they passed the investigation to NLC internal auditors. I am concerned they may cover this up.”

Councillors have urged the Scottish Government to look into NLC’s relationship with Mears, whose parent company, Mears PLC, is the sole bidder for a £1.8billion repair and maintenance contract – the largest ever awarded in Scotland.

Paul McLennan MSP

A decision on the 12-year contract was due on February 15 but the council has paused the plan until its internal investigation is concluded.

An NLC spokesman said: “The work of internal auditors is entirely ­independent and wholly in line with the most stringent professional standards.”

The Scottish Government said: “No decisions will be taken until the outcome of this process is known.”

Mears was contacted for comment.

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