Inverclyde Council contracts worth over £1m have been awarded mostly to companies outwith the district

Eighty per cent of works and services projects over the latest six-monthly spending round have gone to employers elsewhere.

The figure — contained in a report to councillors — has led to further calls for the local authority to prioritise businesses here.

SNP group leader Chris McEleny is demanding a 'fair share' of the work for Inverclyde companies.

Councillor McEleny — himself a time-served electrician — said: "One of the consistent issues that is raised with me is why are so many lucrative contracts, that local people have the ability to carry out, awarded to companies outwith the area?

"Contracts awarded to local tradespeople and companies means money stays in Inverclyde, which in turn means more money is available to support local jobs and even create more work.

"But instead, by giving work to large companies outwith the area, it goes to companies whose profits don't benefit the people of Inverclyde."

Council contracts awarded between last October and March for projects including drain cleaning and repairs, cycle track works, lighting column replacements, disposal of recyclable waste, furniture for St Mary's and Gourock primary schools and minor work to fencing have all gone to firms elsewhere.

Only three contracts — blacksmith fencing and maintenance, an upgrade of mechanical services at Caladh Care Home and provision of occupational health services — went to local contractors.

Councillor McEleny said: "I want to ensure that local work is carried out for the benefit of local people.

"As recent estimates predict that unemployment will see unprecedented levels as a result of the coronavirus, this is more reason for the public pound to be targeted to support Inverclyde.

"More needs to be done to ensure a fair share of work for Inverclyde businesses and Inverclyde's workers.

"It's really important that if we have the ability to spend council money on contracts that help support employment, then it's in Inverclyde that support sees the most benefit."

A council spokesman said the local authority has an 'ambition' to spend as much as it can to support the local economy.

He added: "Of the contracts awarded between October 1 2019 and March 31 this year, a fifth of those involved local companies, including one contract worth almost £130,000 alone.

"The other duty we, as all public organisations have, is to protect the public pound and spend money wisely.

"If the best value for that spend is local, then both ambitions can be met.

"That isn't always the case and it is for a variety of reasons.

"Sometimes there simply aren’t the companies in our patch who can deliver the product or service we require.

"We, alongside our partners in all Scottish councils, work with our procurement partners to support local businesses to be in a position to be able to bid successfully for contracts.

"That's not just our contracts but contracts with other organisations and agencies.

"If any local business wants to tap into that support designed to help them to win more contracts they only need contact us or the 'supplier development programme' at sdpscotland.co.uk and help to bid better for public contracts."