PROPOSALS to privatise Ceredigion’s refuse collection services have been questioned by sceptical councillors.

They said it should not be allowed to happen until staff have had a chance to try and find financial savings internally themselves.

But council chiefs have warned that any proposals would have to be “very radical” and would need staff to accept a possible change in working hours, working double shifts and could lead to current refuse vehicles being pushed beyond their estimated life.

Consultants PricewaterhouseCooper have suggested that the council could save more than £430,000 by privatising the service and letting a contractor take over refuse collections.

They suggest that a private company could make routes more efficient and could increase income by expanding trade waste collections.

However, that has been questioned by councillors who fear that privatising the service would lead to a loss of experienced council staff and could backfire when a contract is due to be renewed.

Cllr Ifan Davies said he wanted to work with staff to try and find a way to make the savings required and retain the refuse service.

He said: “The ball is in the staff’s court. If they want to work with us as councillors to provide the service for the people of Ceredigion, but with the caveat that we have to save money in the budget, can it be done?”

But Huw Morgan, the strategic director for the department, said: “It would have to be very radical and probably involve double-shifting and sweating those lorries more than seven-hours a day. It’s not stacked in our favour. It would have to be just as radical as externalisation.”

Councillors agreed to ask staff and union Unison to make savings suggestions that could hit the target currently set.

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