Council rejects plan to privatise services

Plans to privatise a series of council services including bin collections, street cleaning and ground maintenance have been rejected today by councillors.

Labour, SNP and Green councillors all backed the “in-house” alternative that will deliver £45 million of savings.

All but one of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors voted for outsourcing the services to Enterprise, which would have saved up to £72m - with Lib Dem Gary Peacock going against his party line and backing the in-house option.

The decision means staff will remain council employees but supporters of the outsourcing plan said the decision was based on “political dogma” and means savings will need to be found elsewhere.