A GWENT councillor has expressed his concerns that his authority cannot afford a care contract awarded to the wife of a former social services chairman.

Blaenau Gwent councillor Des Hillman sits on the social services committee which awarded the major contract to Christine Scully, the wife of Councillor Brian Scully, despite it being potentially £3.15 million more expensive than the lowest bid.

But Independent Councillor Hillman, who represents Blaina, said he had not voted for Mrs Scully's application because he was worried it was too expensive for the council.

Councillor Scully did not attend meetings of the social services committee when the contract was discussed.

Councillor Hillman has also raised concerns about where the council would find a £72,000 annual shortfall in the revenue costs of the scheme.

He was one of 25 members at the meeting in January where four applicants made presentations, before one - Mrs Scully - was chosen by secret ballot.

Councillor Hillman said: "I have no axe to grind. I am a new councillor, and I do not even know Mrs Scully. But I have 30 years' experience in business and I voted for the figures we could afford."

The Argus revealed on Saturday how independent auditor Tony Morgan described the decision to award the contract to Mrs Scully as "perverse", "inconsistent" and "possibly unlawful".

Mrs Scully's bid was £126,000 a year - or 84 per cent - more expensive than the lowest tender received for the 25-year contract.

Councillors and officers were at fault, said Mr Morgan. The council said it acted in good faith.

At the meeting, councillors were told the authority had a budget of around £204,000 for the annual revenue costs of the scheme. But Mrs Scully's successful bid would cost £276,000 a year.

In his report Mr Morgan noted that the contract was awarded to Mrs Scully "subject to additional resources being available".

A council spokeswoman said the additional funding had not yet been identified.

But Councillor Hillman said: "If there is more money to be found for this particular package, I wonder where it will come from."

- Eight days after the social services meeting in January when the contract was awarded to Mrs Scully, the auditors indicated to the council they had received expressions of concern which would have to be investigated. The decision was put on hold and the contract never drawn up.

Council leader John Hopkins said yesterday the intention had been to establish a partnership on the basis of quality of care and continuing care, location of the care home, timing and resource availability before contractual arrangements would be developed.

"The council was looking for a partnership arrangement which went beyond the usual tendering procedure because our priority was to provide the best life for these highly vulnerable people to be located in the community. Now they will have to wait longer because the bids received for the contract will have to be re-appraised."