COUNCILLORS criticised for awarding a care contract to the wife of a former social services chairman will reconsider the contract next week.

But they have hit out at the auditor who criticised councillors and officers at Blaenau Gwent county borough council for denying them the chance to defend themselves before the report was public.

It has been revealed that council officers pointed out to auditor Tony Morgan that the people criticised by him had no opportunity to answer his complaints before the report was published.

Councillor Des Hillman was a member of the social services committee which awarded the contract at the centre of the criticism to Christine Scully, wife of Councillor Brian Scully, despite it being potentially £3.15 million more expensive than the lowest bid.

The first time he saw the auditor's criticisms was when he received his completed report.

"I would have liked the chance to say my piece before the auditor's report damned us all," said Councillor Hillman.

He added that he would have liked it made clear that the vote for Mrs Scully's package was not unanimous. He himself had voted against the tender because he feared it was too expensive.

At a meeting next Thursday, councillors are expected to agree that bids for the contract - to accommodate and care for individuals rehomed from Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital - should be appraised and the contract reconsidered in line with the auditor's recommendations.

The contract has not been let because the decision was made subject to additional resources being available and it has not been possible to identify them.

Mr Morgan said no cogent reasons had been given for awarding the contract to the highest tenderer.

But a report drawn up by officers, including chief executive Roger Leadbeter, for councillors to consider at the meeting, says: "We have stressed to the external auditor that reasons have been advanced to him, but he has not regarded them as cogent."