Documents have revealed that council chiefs have ruled out privatising council services in Aberdeen.
The papers indicate that the council will not be outsourcing in the facilities management section.
When pressed, co-leader Jenny Laing said that outsourcing was “never part of this administration’s long term plans”.
Outsourcing is the process of moving council services, such as social care or school catering, to private companies then paid a fee by the council.
Unions and opposition councillors have criticised the controversial restructuring of the council to cut £125 million in five years.
The council has confirmed that 370 posts will go through transfers and by not recruiting for vacant roles as well as offering voluntary redundancies. Early retirement will also offered under the new Target Operating Model (TOM) – which has been drawn up by consultants.
Other models are now being considered including more potential “arms-length” set-ups like Sport Aberdeen – where a charity runs services on behalf of the council.
Last night Mrs Laing said retaining services inhouse was “central” to the next five years of their administration.
She said: “As co-leader of Aberdeen City Council I am committed to looking at ways in which we can enhance the services we provide to the public.
“Retaining services in-house is central to the new Target Operating Model, despite what the SNP opposition has been promoting publicly, and I hope today’s announcement proves once and for all that outsourcing was never part of this administration’s long-term plans.”
However, SNP Group Leader Stephen Flynn said: “Just two months ago, councillor Laing voted against my proposal that the council should not look to outsource services as part of this new commissioning model.
“I appreciate that she is trying very hard to appease her Labour colleagues at a national level but her actions continue to defy her words – as we see all too often with the suspended nine.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “We are exploring options to enhance the current in-house delivery of facilities management and members of staff are being engaged with to help drive improvements and shape future service delivery.
“Proposals will be finalised in due course.”
