Essex County Council (ECC) plans to award a multi-billion pound contract to either IBM or TI systems, The Times Reports today.

In an interview with the times, Lord Hanningfield, the Shadow Transport Secretary, revealed plans to outsource the majority of ECC’s back office processes to the tune of £5.5 billion over eight years. The deal is hoped to deliver savings of at least £200 million. ECC will decide who will deliver the contract next month.

The full article can be seen here:Councils poised to hand running of care and education to private firms