PLANS to transfer the running of some of Trafford Council's services to private companies were rubber stamped by the council's executive last night.

Executive councillors voted to proceed to the next stage of the Reshaping TraffordJoint venture contract for a range of services and will now move onto the formal contract tender stage.

The council says the process will enable it to" protect jobs wherever possible, achieve sustainable services and continue making the on-going savings needed to meet the £55m deficit it is facing by 2018."

However, the Labour group has labelled the decision as 'wholesale privatisation' which will be 'devastating' for staff.

Council leader, Sean Anstee, asserted that the approach is not new, but simply an extension of what has been done for some time, drawing on the example of waste services, which have been contracted for a number of years.

Cllr Anstee said: “The council recognises in light of the continuing financial climate, that it must explore alternative options to enable it to continue providing the high standard of service our residents have come to expect.

"By not shying away from difficult decisions, being open minded and positive about extending our collaborative work with the public and private sector, we believe we will be able to protect jobs where possible and ensure sustainable services for local people.

"We cannot guarantee this if we didn’t explore other options.”

But Labour leader, Cllr David Acton, is not convinced.

He said: "This is part of Conservative plans to further privatise council services.

"Clearly there will be significant implications for staff, job losses and reduced wages and terms and conditions.

"It will also have serious adverse implications for the services.

"Privatisation is not a panacea, as we have seen with the privatisation of energy utilities, transport and many other public services privatised by this government.

"The first thought of the private sector is to their shareholders and not the service users. We see this time and time again.

"This is another step towards wholesale privatisation of council services by Conservatives, and it comes on back of the Tory council mismanagement of the budget.

"Having created the financial mess they are now reaching out to the private sector in the forlorn hope that by privatising whole swathes of services they will somehow get the council out of the financial mess they have created."

During the procurement exercise, interested companies had to demonstrate they could meet key outcomes. These were: * To deliver a minimum of 20 per cent savings against the net budget from contract commencement; * To deliver further, future efficiency savings through continual improvement and innovation in service provision through the contract life; * To have flexibility, recognising the challenging financial climate facing local authorities at the moment; * Protect jobs and maintain service standards in so far as practicable.

It is anticipated that the tender process will be completed and new partners(s) appointed by April 2015, with implementation expected by July 2015.

Councillor Anstee added that following the award of a contract, the council will work closely with whichever partner(s) is selected to ensure there is a robust, complete handover, ahead of the contracts beginning, so that a smooth handover process is ensured.