Wakefield closes in on huge outsourcing deal

One of the firms will become the employer of 1,200 council workers under the deal. Property and asset management, cleaning, school meals and buildings-related architectural design will be taken over by one of the three companies.

A report to the council’s Modern Public Services overview and scrutiny committee said the new arrangement will start in April next year after the firms were shortlisted last November.

The report said: “Details on the various aspects of the project are being finalised and fine tuned in order to prepare for final tenders to be called.

“Whilst until the final bids have been evaluated it isn’t possible to state precisely what the final solution will look like, nor the level of financial savings, it is possible to be confident that the final agreement will be very much a partnership tailored to Wakefield.”

Central government cuts mean the council will be expected to make savings of £66m in the next five years.

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