A major programme of housing improvements will get underway on 1 April 2012 and run for just 12 months.

The council housing body also said it intended to ring fence £13m worth of work for its direct labour organisation to allow it to benchmark against the performance of its three framework contractors.

The scope of the works includes internal modernisation, consisting of works to kitchens, bathrooms, central heating, rewiring, renewing windows and doors, and may also include external improvement works

Interested firms have until 23 December to submit PQQs which are available from http://scms.alito.co.uk/ or Carol Barker, tel: 01977628325