Capita, the outsourcing giant, has been singled out as the council officers’ preferred bidder in a deal for the management of five district councils’ shared services.

The outsourcing company will provide a variety of corporate services including revenues and benefits, customer services, human resources, IT and procurement to the councils of South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, Hart, Havant and Mendip District Councils.

The contract has a nine-year term and is valued at £139m. It will see Capita introducing a pioneering shared services platform capable of meeting the different requirements of each council.

It is now left to each of the councils’ cabinets to formally appoint Capita as their preferred bidder.

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