ONE of the bidders competing to form a partnership with Cornwall Council to run local services has pulled out.
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) informed Cornwall Council yesterday (Tuesday) that it no longer wanted to be considered for the contract to provide the shared services which would include services for the council and health trusts.
The announcement that it was withdrawing came just after a meeting of Cornwall Council where leader Alec Robertson was voted out of office and his former deputy Jim Currie was elected as his replacement.
Mr Robertson was faced with a vote of no confidence after he ignored a previous council vote which called for a withdrawal from the shared services project. Mr Currie has been an outspoken critic of the project.
CSC was competing with BT to win the contract to provide the services which could be worth up to £800million. The council says that it is the best way of making savings and would also bring investment into Cornwall as well as creating 500 new jobs.
Critics say they are concerned about a private firm being responsible for council services including libraries, benefit payments and IT systems.
In a statement Cornwall Council said: "The council is disappointed that CSC has made the decision to withdraw from the procurement for a strategic partnership for support services. The council would like to thank CSC for its involvement in the programme over the last year and their interest in working with Cornwall Council.
"The council is continuing discussions with BT and the debate on the strategic partnership is still due to go ahead as part of the full council meeting on October 23."
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) informed Cornwall Council yesterday (Tuesday) that it no longer wanted to be considered for the contract to provide the shared services which would include services for the council and health trusts.
The announcement that it was withdrawing came just after a meeting of Cornwall Council where leader Alec Robertson was voted out of office and his former deputy Jim Currie was elected as his replacement.
Mr Robertson was faced with a vote of no confidence after he ignored a previous council vote which called for a withdrawal from the shared services project. Mr Currie has been an outspoken critic of the project.
CSC was competing with BT to win the contract to provide the services which could be worth up to £800million. The council says that it is the best way of making savings and would also bring investment into Cornwall as well as creating 500 new jobs.
Critics say they are concerned about a private firm being responsible for council services including libraries, benefit payments and IT systems.
In a statement Cornwall Council said: "The council is disappointed that CSC has made the decision to withdraw from the procurement for a strategic partnership for support services. The council would like to thank CSC for its involvement in the programme over the last year and their interest in working with Cornwall Council.
"The council is continuing discussions with BT and the debate on the strategic partnership is still due to go ahead as part of the full council meeting on October 23."
