FOUR companies are attempting to take over highways maintenance work across North Yorkshire.

Currently, the county council's direct labour organisation carries out the work, but from April 2002 it could be in the hands of a private company.

The contract is worth about £20m a year and will run for a minimum of six years up to a maximum of ten years, depending on the performance of the chosen company.

It is for a wide range of work, including winter maintenance, street lighting, gully cleaning, fleet maintenance, rural grass cutting and highways maintenance.

Although there will be no formal in-house bid, tenders will be measured against an in-house model to ensure that any new arrangement offers best value for money.

If the quality and price determined by the in-house model demonstrates that "Best Value" already exists then the work will remain in-house.

Director of environmental services Mike Moore said: "What we are looking at is the long-term provision of services providing the county council with a best value arrangement.

"We are examining our costs and what standards are currently being met and how they can be improved year-on-year."

Each of the four companies is being asked to return its prices and quality submissions to the county council by October 1. They will be judged on quality first and then prices.

An award is expected before the end of the year. The contract is due to start on April 1, next year, after a period of establishing new working practices and systems. This will enable the contractor to work closely with the county council to ensure best value for the future.