CONTROVERSIAL council outsourcing plans have been delayed.

As reported in the Daily Echo, members of the overview and scrutiny management panel at Bournemouth Council pored over plans to outsource four departments to private firm Mouchel at a six-hour meeting on Monday.

They decided that more work needed to be done before they examined them again.

It means that the proposals will now not go to the cabinet and full council next week as planned, and the process will not be completed in time for the partnership to begin on August 2, as previously announced.

Cllr John Beesley, cabinet member for resources, said: “As portfolio holder, I believe that this information is necessary and it is important that we allow sufficient time for the business case to be fully articulated and for the panel members to consider this additional information.”

Panel chairman Cllr Peter Charon, added: “We have a duty of care to our residents to achieve an ever-improving service delivery at a greater value for money cost and we must make the right decision based on the information presented to us.”