Three London councils have signed outsourcing contracts for the provision of library and leisure services in the search for savings.

Brent, Ealing and Harrow councils have signed contracts to outsource library, sports and leisure services, with John Laing Integrated Services.

The decision to outsource the services came after plans to create trusts to run them was rejected in favour of putting the service management out for market tender, due to the markets advantage in providing greater competitive pricing.

London council budgets are currently being squeezed, with departments under pressure to create savings, Ealing council alone is looking to achieve a savings target of around £250 million over the 2014/2015 period.

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