A WELSH local authority is taking its social housing and property services back into public control, jettisoning a joint enterprise with the private sector after only a few years.

More than 100 jobs will be transferred into direct employment by Powys County Council when the private sector partnership ends in July next year.

In July 2017, the council set up Heart of Wales Property Services with private property and services group Kier to run and maintain its housing and other properties.

Council leader Rosemarie Harris said the partnership was being dissolved following a “detailed review of the company.”

“Some initial investment will be required to make the change, but we are confident it will provide long-term improvements which continue to support the local economy,” she said.

In a statement, Kier said it had “refined our areas of focus and geographical locations and have mutually agreed with the council to end our partnership.”

Public service union Unison said the partnership had failed and welcomed the decision to end it.

Unison Powys County branch secretary John Byrne said: “We welcome the council’s decision to wind up the Heart of Wales Property Services with Kier and we are confident we will see services improve as a result.

“These services should never have been outsourced.”

Unison regional organiser Mark Turner said: “This is another example of a failed venture which has wasted taxpayers’ money.

“The private sector struggles to deliver public services. This is proven time and again when outsourced provisions fail and local authorities have a duty to rectify the damage.

“There are no shortcuts to delivering decent public services and local authorities in Wales must learn lessons from Powys County Council.”