A CONTROVERSIAL job advert at Worcestershire County Council has been described as "shocking" by the Labour Party - which says it wants the role scrapped.

Bosses at County Hall want to recruit someone on £58,000 a year to help hand services for older people to outside providers.

Under the move a 'lead commissioning manager for older people' will oversee the drive to get more bodies, including the private sector, involved to help save cash.

But the opposition Labour group has called the advert "mad", saying the leadership is "obsessed" with handing services to outside providers.

It also says if the group gains control of the council at next year's elections it will immediately axe the job.

The role has been advertised since mid-August on various public sector websites, and is still open for applicants until a week on Sunday.

Councillor Richard Udall, Labour group chairman, said: "This is truly shocking.

"We are told we're a 'cash strapped' authority, that we need to cut vital services for vulnerable people, but at the same time we're recruiting new people on high salaries in order to sell off more services to the private sector at taxpayers' expense.

"It is Tory ideology gone mad, they are so obsessed with closing down services and selling them to the private sector that they fail to realise the shock and anger this kind of job would create.

"Labour has issued a formal warning to applicants, if we take control of the council next year, this job will go."

It comes at a time when the council is looking to hand as many services as possible to external providers under its new operating model, a tactic known as commissioning which could also involve charities, community groups, trusts, not-for-profit enterprises and other bodies.

The criticism has been rejected by the Conservative leadership, which says the job is important.

The administration has highlighted deals like the Liberata one, a London-based firm which took over 100 HR and finance roles last year under a seven-year agreement.

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member for transformation and commissioning, said: "We've got to come to terms with the fact that when it comes to grabbing publicity, Richard Udall is Worcestershire's 'Katy Perry'.

"But he's got a right to express a view. What we're doing is looking for the most effective ways of providing services, but when things are commissioned out we need people here to monitor it.

"It's not a case of us versus them, Liberata is a very good example of that, it's about finding the best possible providers who can provide better services at the best value for money."

The job advert says bosses want to find someone to "challenge current approaches" and help the council achieve "significant savings targets" in the years ahead.

At the moment around 80 per cent of County Hall's adult social care work is done by independent providers, such as care homes but it wants to go further.

The council is still looking to slash more than £25 million a year from spending in real terms, although it is forecast to top £33 million in 2016/17.