MAJOR changes to the ground-breaking £10 million-a-year outsourcing deal between Blackburn with Darwen Council and private firm Capita are on the way.

On Thursday the council's ruling executive board will be recommend that key services should be taken back in-house and the remainder put out to tender.

Many of those up for grabs have been run by Capita since the 15-year deal was struck in 2001.

In January the council gave formal notice of termination of the contract, which ends on June 30 next year and was worth over £200 million over its 15 years, to permit renegotiation.

A report to the executive board meeting has outlined which services the council intends to take back in house which include accounts for debtors and creditors, revenues and benefits, parking, and design and print services.

Highways, transport and property, currently keystones of the deal, will be put out to tender though not necessarily with Capita as preferred bidder.

Architectural and technical services will also be put out to competitive bids.

In July 2012, changes to the deal saw payroll and personnel services taken back into the town hall.

The report stressed that the borough was required to give formal notice of the termination of the contact no later than 12 months before its end date.

This allows the council to review the terms of the contract and renegotiate which services are outsourced.

Council resources boss Andy Kay said: “Rigorous reviews are taking place to make sure we have the best and most cost effective services in place when the current partnership with Capita ends on June 30 next year.

"We must choose the options that help ensure we can meet the financial and service challenges and also help the borough to grow and prosper.

“Some services will be coming back in house and the remainder will be procured.

"Capita are continuing to show commitment and work positively with the council as we plan ahead."

A Capita spokesperson said: “The firm’s 15 year strategic partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council is one of the longest lasting and most successful multi-disciplinary public private partnerships of its kind.

"The council is now reflecting on how services will be delivered once the contract comes to its natural end in June 2016.

"Capita is working closely with the council as it plans ahead, and is keen to see how it can continue to deliver first class services to Blackburn with Darwen in the future."