DIRECTORS of Heart of Wales Property Services (HOWPS) can breathe a sigh of relief.

Companies House has discontinued the strike off action, after they have scrutinised the accounts submitted by HOWPS.

A new notice has been filed by Companies House on the HOWPS register which states: “Cause has been shown why HOWPS should not be struck off the register and accordingly the Registrar is taking no further action.”

A spokesman for Companies House explained that it can take up to a week or longer for the documents to be processed and registered after they are sent to them. And only then do the notices get downgraded.

Both Powys County Council and Kier said that accounts for HOWPS had been filed with companies house within the time frame.

At the time, Aled Davies, portfolio holder for finance and a HOWPS director, believed the First Gazette notice had been an “oversight”.

A spokesman for PCC said they had nothing further to add.

HOWPS is a joint venture between Powys County Council and construction group Kier and looks after 5,400 homes and 630 properties in the county.

The joint venture started in July 2017 after 109 workers were transferred to the company by TUPE.

Continued problems with Kier’s share prices have raised fears about the company.

Many county councillors believe that the joint venture is not working and want to to bring the service back under full PCC control.

A First Gazette notices appear in the London Gazette and is the first step in the process of dissolving a company.

The London Gazette, reputed to be the UK’s oldest continuously published newspaper, is where statutory notices have to be published.

It was first printed in November 1665.