A POTENTIAL money-saving drive to merge bin collections has been backed by council chiefs - who insist they want to identify "the size of the prize" for taxpayers.

The Conservative leadership at Worcestershire County Council has agreed to try and hunt down Government funding to do a detailed investigation into what cash could be saved under a refuse deal.

The move, first revealed by your Worcester News on Tuesday, has been criticised by the Labour group, which says it could lead to unwanted privatisation.

The council is hopeful of getting Government cash or funding from another outside body to do the work, saying it could benefit other parts of the UK.

At the moment rubbish is collected by all six Worcestershire district authorities separately but disposed of by the county council.

The bill for Worcestershire and Herefordshire totalled £57 million last year, and there are hopes both counties could potentially be included.

During a cabinet meeting today the leadership pointed to Somerset, where an arrangement there is saving taxpayers £1.7 million a year.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, the leader, said: "It's worth trying to identify what the size of the prize could be - we've seen the £1.75 million saved in Somerset."

He said he was hopeful of securing outside cash for the study, insisting a successful deal "could have implications for other counties around the country".

Councillor Anthony Blagg, the cabinet member for the environment, said: "Nobody wants to particularly rock the boat but the districts are short of money, as we all are.

"If money could be found to do this study it should be done, but it must have the support of all the district councils otherwise there is no point.

"We haven't got the staff time or resources do to it without extra money from the Government."

It comes after a review by backbench politicians found little appetite for a merger due to fears district authorities would lose their key service.

But during the cabinet debate Councillor Liz Tucker, opposition Lib Dem group leader, said she was willing to back it.

"I'm really keen for you to find the money to investigate the facts - we need to see what sacrifices need to be made by the district councils before they can decide if they want to do it," she said.

"We all know that after the General Election finances will be tight, and I don't think pride should get in the way of facts."

STOP THIS NOW, SAYS LABOUR GROUP

AHEAD of today's meeting Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader at County Hall, said it should he halted before it goes any further.

He said: "The county council is ignoring the wishes of the six districts, treating them with utter contempt.

"There is no wish for privatisation of this service from any of the districts, however the county’s obsession of privatisation no matter the costs and wishes of those concerned are ignored for privateers to make a profit out of public services and thus pushing costs up.

"It is reckless and irresponsible of the county council by stealth or other means to privatise a service that has such high satisfaction levels throughout the county.

"The only reason privateers will take over this service is to make profits and that could well jeopardise the present level of service and the terms and conditions of those employed."

He also mentioned it during the debate, calling it "ridiculous" but Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for health, said "lots of politicians are talking rubbish" while Cllr Blagg said they were only following the advice of the cross-party review.

The Tory cabinet insists there is no ulterior motive for wanting to do the bins audit, other than finally finding out what savings are possible for the benefit of all the authorities.