Delay in planning sell-off confirmation

The decision on final details of a �40m deal to sell off Breckland Council's planning department to the private sector has been postponed until next month.

The decision on final details of a �40m deal to sell off Breckland Council's planning department to the private sector has been postponed until next month.

Breckland's seven-member cabinet has already agreed to a 15-year deal with Capita Symonds, a division of outsourcing giant Capita.

This will see 50 staff at the authority, based in Dereham, transferred to the stock market-listed firm and all functions run in the planning and building control department run by Capita Symonds.

The cabinet had been due to sign off 'outstanding contractual matters' at a special meeting on Monday but now it will happen on May 12. Breckland says the deal will offer savings for the council. It is worth �39.7m over 15 years, compared to the estimated �43.3m in-house cost, it has said.

The postponement will allow members of the development control committee, meeting on the same day, and other council members who are on holiday to participate fully.