A BOROUGH'S originally ground-breaking deal with private outsourcing company Capita is to be further slimmed down.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board will tonight be asked to bring back-in house property and highways services.

The original 2001 15-year deal between the two was renegotiated and reduced when it ended in 2016.

Services taken back 'in house' then by the borough included accounts for debtors and creditors, revenues and benefits, parking, and design and print services.

The new five-year deal with Capita, worth £60million, covered highways, design, property, architectural and technical services.

A report by council resources boss Cllr Andy Kay to be considered by tonight says: "Two years in to this new partnership, it became clear to both the council and Capita that the additional services in particular were not progressing as envisaged and there was a significant management overhead in respect of the small core service which is not effective or value for money

"The remaining core service delivery in respect of highways and property services will transfer back to the council along with those staff entitled to transfer.

"Capita will retain their presence in the borough and the Council will retain the ability to directly commission work to support growth."

The report adds: "It is expected that a number of staff will transfer back to the Council during the current financial year as a result of this contract change."