WORCESTER City Council's lone Green Party politician has fired a warning over “privatisation” of council services - saying he would not be prepared to back it.

Councillor Neil Laurenson has voiced fears it will “generally lead to worse services” and has urged other parties to echo his concern.

As your Worcester News reported on Wednesday, council chiefs are on the verge of signing a deal for a private company to take on the revenues and benefits service.

Civica, based in London, wants to run the Pershore-based centre on a five-year contract, which handles calls from residents in Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon.

The move will save all 101 jobs at the site, and see another 15 created, with bosses vowing to “buy in” services from other councils to keep the extra staff busy.

Coun Laurenson said: “I worry about the accountability of these services once they are taken over, and the fact they are being taken over privately.

“Privatisation means they provide services commercially; and what is to stop terms and conditions being revised for the staff?”

He added: “The Green Party takes the view that privatisation can generally lead to a worse service, lack of accountability and money leaching out of the system in the form of profit.”

The deal with Civica, which is subject to agreement from the city’s Labour-led ruling administration tonight and final contract talks, came about after concerns it may not be viable if it stays in-house.

Last year Wychavon District Council revealed around 40 of the 101 posts would have to go by 2017/18, mainly because the Department for Work and Pensions is taking control of some services it has traditionally offered.

Financially, the deal will save district councils in Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon a combined £3 million by the time the contract is up for renewal.

The existing governance arrangements are planned to continue, meaning representatives from the authorities will still be able to oversee its performance.

Nick Jefferies, head of the South Worcestershire revenues and benefits service, said: “With the advent of Universal Credit south Worcestershire councils were facing the prospect of having to shed a large number of jobs in the shared revenues and benefits service.

“By adopting a partnership approach we will be able to bring together a wide range of skills and expertise together with economies of scale that allow us to offer a high quality service at a very competitive rate.”

Civica, which has been praised in a council report for its approach, has also agreed to match terms and conditions for staff.