The contract is to carry out repairs and maintenance on the city's 20,000 council-owned houses through a newly formed joint venture company, Kier Stoke, in which the council has taken a 20% share.  The contract term is for ten years with an option to extend for a further five.

Over 500 council employees have transferred to Kier Stoke. As well as the ongoing repairs and maintenance of the city's 20,000-strong council house stock and municipal buildings, including the Town Hall in which the signing took place, Kier Stoke will be responsible for the completion of all works on the government's Decent Homes programme.