FIFTY four council jobs are under threat while bosses wait for home improvement contracts to be awarded.

Staff in Sedgefield Borough Council's contract services department have been given 12 weeks' notice as a precaution while rival bids for the work are considered.

The employees, who are all craftsmen and labourers normally engaged in repairing and improving council houses, were issued with redundancy notices last week.

These will be withdrawn if the department beats off outside competition to win the work.

One member of staff, who asked not to be named, said: "It is a very worrying time. We have been told we will stay if we get the contracts, but we just don't know."

A council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, we have had to issue redundancy notices to 54 craftsmen and labourers which will come into effect from May 10.

"This step has been taken as a precautionary measure in the light of the fact that the borough council's contract services department is awaiting the outcome of tenders for the award of tenant-led improvement contracts in March and April. However, should contract services win all or some of the contracts, the redundancy situation will be reviewed."

"Contracts are awarded under a best value format, which does not necessarily mean they go to the cheapest bidder."

On Friday, the authority is expected to confirm that its council tax will go up by 12.5 per cent.

Seventy per cent of properties fall into Band A and will be charged between £702.51, for people living in Windlestone, to £828.42 for those in Shildon.

The figures include charges levied by Durham County Council and the police authority and vary because of the different precepts charged by town and parish councils.

Proposals being put to councillors to bring in additional income include increasing leisure centre charges by five per cent, meals-on-wheels charges by 10p to £1.40p, luncheon clubs by 5p to £1.60p and garage rents by 20p to £4.50p a week.

Planning fees, licences and search fees could rise by five per cent