SERIOUS problems have surfaced in the tendering process for work to remodel Otley primary schools.

At an emergency meeting of Leeds City Council's Executive Board tomorrow, councillors will be told all tenders were higher than expected and did not represent value for money.

And in an effort to make sure all four schools open as planned in September this year, they will be asked to consider calling in entirely new contractors.

Councillors will hear all four tender prices for Ashfield Infants, Westgate Infants, The Whartons and All Saints Infants were higher than expected and did not represent value for money.

In the report to councillors, it is said all tenders were referred to the internal audit section.

"After further consideration by Internal Audit, the matter has been discussed with the Office of Fair Trading who have agreed to review the case in order to determine whether any further action or investigation is warranted."

The report adds that none of the tenders represented value for money and that the commitment to Otley that the schools be completed by the end of the summer term is now at risk.

"Consequently, extraordinary measures are currently being considered in order to keep these projects on track."

Councillors will be asked to consider three options - all designed to make sure the schools open as planned at the beginning of the new school year in September.

The most likely course of action will be that the board will go to a list of contractors with a proven track record in similar projects.

"A waiver of contract procedure rules by the chief education officer will be required to progress this approach through the formal stages and is currently being compiled.

"Following this, the previously dispatched tender documentation will be issued on a single tender basis to those contractors that they have the resource availability and can guarantee project deadlines."

A second option open to councillors is for the council to use its own in house agencies - the Design Services Agency and the Building Agency and a third, a mixture of the two.

Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) said: "I am very concerned about this development for two reasons. Firstly, the council's tender procedures should at all times be above suspicion. I welcome the investigation that appears to be getting underway as to how this situation arose.

"Above all it is absolutely essential that all four schools involved are up and running in their new format byAugust 30. This is paramount and nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of meeting that deadline."

It had been estimated that the work would cost in the region of £1.5 million. Of the four schools, the most work will be done at All Saints Infants, Lisker Drive. Work will include a 25 per cent increase in floor space and will also include new sports pitches.

The Whartons School will get a seven per cent increase and internal refurbishment.Westgate Infants, will get three new extensions and Ashfield Infants two extensions and a 17 per cent increase in floor space.