Council chiefs have given the green light to a £15m alcohol and drug recovery service contract awarded to a charity-led partnership.

Brighton and Hove City Council put substance misuse services out to tender after carrying out a review and redesign.

The city's range of support and treatment had previously been run by the NHS and several different agencies.

The Pavilions Partnership, led by Surrey charity Cranstoun, beat three other bidders to win the three-year contract which has a potential two-year extension.

The move sparked criticism from campaigners who say they want the service to remain with the NHS.

Unison members from the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who work in the city, petitioned the council to keep the service they provide within the NHS at a meeting at Hove Town Hall this afternoon.

Together with members of Sussex Defend the NHS campaign group, they lobbied the council’s policy and resources committee ahead of a meeting at 4pm.

Crys of "shame on you" echoed from the public gallery as seven councillors voted in favour of the plans against three abstentions and none against.

More to follow...