A PRIVATE contract worth £154 million has led to a “rapid deterioration” in council services, councillors have claimed.

Calls have been made to put West Sussex County Council outsourcing plans on hold following the critical report into Capita's contract to take on contract back office services.

UNISON West Sussex commissioned the report which revealed that just two per cent of residents believed services had improved under outsourcing giant Capita - while 50 per cent said it had got worse.

There 532 "serious service incidents" reported, causing "major delay and frustration" and costing the council significant sums of money.

It described how specialist members of staff from in-house council departments were having to complete basic admin tasks.

Almost three-quarters of West Sussex Capita staff surveyed said staff morale was low with 63% of staff not feeling valued by the company.

The ten year contract with Capita is to deliver a range of council services including human resources and payroll while a separate seven-year IT contract meant Capita ran the council's contact centre.

West Sussex County Council defended the contract saying the partnership had achieved its primary objectives and that the report’s findings had been presented in a “negative context”.

But Labour councillors said the independent study "revealed deep dissatisfaction" with the provision of services by Capita which received a highest satisfaction rating of just 48 per cent.

Councillor Michael Jones said his own research revealed 40% of former council staff transferring to Capita had left within three years of the contract being signed.

He added: “This is yet another example of how the current Tory leadership is failing West Sussex residents and not providing competent stewardship of our county.

“This research should send alarm bells ringing in Louise Goldsmith’s Tory cabinet.

"We challenge them to read the research report in full, stop their ideological obsession with outsourcing and examine how they can bring these services back under council control, as has recently happened in other councils.”

A West Sussex County Council spokeswoman said: “We are very disappointed that it is being presented in such a negative context and that the positive findings have not been highlighted.

“Overall, our partnership has achieved its primary objectives and performance targets continue to be met.

“All of the information gathered will ensure that we are working together as effectively as possible in terms of quality of services and value for money.”

To read the full report go to unisonwestsussex.org.uk/news/capita-research/