COUNCIL tenants have an option for home content insurance from the local authority but only a fraction take it up, heard a committee last week.

There are just 650 people on the policy out of a possible 10,000 homes, 550 of them council tenants and the rest owners of ex-council properties.

With the current contract set to expire on January 4, 2017, West Dunbartonshire Council's corporate services committee was considering whether to continue to offer it and promote it further.

There was a small income to the authority for administering the scheme for insurers Arthur J Gallagher.

In a report to councillors, it was recommended to re-tender the home content insurance policy as well as a strategy and research on "the market's capacity and willingness to provide this service".

As part of the procurement process, there would be three options: tender the policy on the current terms, tender it but with the insurer taking on the administration, or don't re-tender and direct residents to get their own cover.

The report recommended the council continue to offer it but see if an insurer would take on the administration.

Councillor Kath Ryall admitted to the meeting: "I was not aware we had a home contents policy until this report. It's a good deal for our residents."

Councillor Jonathan McColl said he was aware of the scheme but said many were not and asked what was being done to publicise it.

Stephen West, head of finance and resources, accepted: "I think we probably should publicise this further. It's an area we need to improve."

Councillor Ryall added: "It raises the issue of whether we want to be in this business. If we want to, then the implications become very real - such as an increase in staff time to administer the scheme. That's why we are looking for variance of administration by the insurers themselves."

The motion to note the report and its contents was passed.

Councillors also approved retendering policies on block buildings insurance for privately owned ex-council properties, and insurance contracts for the council and leisure trust.