Town hall to privatise front-line services

covering building maintenance, cleaning, school meals and refuse collection. It also highlights the possibility of employees taking control of adult social care.

Wakefield’s budget approved for this year is intended to save £19m of the £67m total required over the next four years.

Further plans now need to be made for savings of £22m in 2012/13 and then a further £26m between 2013 and 2015.

The report seeks approval to test the market for the level of interest in delivering services on the council’s behalf.

Expressions of interest will be sought for all of the council’s services and will take several months to complete.

Wakefield Council leader Peter Box said last night: “We have been committed to directly providing excellent council services, something we proved in recent years, but we have to change and we have to bring in additional investment.

“However, these proposals should not be seen as detracting from our commitment to providing local public services.”

He added: “Doing things differently is not new to Wakefield and we want to continue to lead the field.”

The move comes after Selby Council announced it was also considering radical changes to the way it provides services.

The Yorkshire Post revealed yesterday that the authority was considering starting a separate business, owned by the council, to run services on its behalf.

Council leader Mark Crane said the move could save much of the £3m they need to cut from their budget by 2012.

The plan would leave a core group of just 14 commissioners working directly for the council. The report also highlights the possibility of employees taking control of adult social care.

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