Title

BUSINESS

London council votes to end mass outsourcing by 2026

Barnet LBC has voted to end its 10-year outsourcing contract with Capita, bringing services back in-house by 2026.

Barnet LBC has voted to end its 10-year outsourcing contract with Capita, bringing services back in-house by 2026.

Most privatised frontline services - including highways and planning - will return under direct control of the council next year.

However, Barnet will extend the contract for services that are harder to bring back straight away such as IT and customer services until March 2026 to avoid redundancies and save £254,000.

Council leader Barry Rawlings said: 'This is the first major step we have taken to bring privatised services back in-house and shows our commitment to providing value-for-money for all our residents.

'Most of the services outsourced by the previous administration will be back under direct council control by next year.

'The decision to run services in-house will save Barnet's council taxpayers money and return 370 staff to direct employment by the council.

'The remaining Capita contract, CSG, will close by 2026, before the end of our administration's first term.'

The council first awarded Capita the 10-year contract back in 2013, covering services such as HR, finance, IT, estates, customer services, and the revenues and benefits service.

Barnet then formed the Regional Enterprise partnership with Capita to run services including highways, planning, regeneration and development, and environmental health.

A Capita spokesperson said: 'In the last nine years, our teams have successfully delivered a range of key services in Barnet.

'The extension on other services will see us build on our track record of delivery and save Barnet LBC £254,000, as well as preventing £2.6m in additional costs per year.'

BUSINESS

Why should we care about the local outcomes framework?

By Jeremy Cooper | 16 February 2026

Jeremy Cooper offers local authorities some suggested dos and don’ts on the new local outcomes framework, and asks if it is likely to drive top-down change.

BUSINESS

Many district councils will see a cash cut

By James Hood | 16 February 2026

On average district councils face real terms funding reductions at a time of rising demand, and a long-term solution is still needed on flood protection, sa...

BUSINESS

The centre must tackle the challenges still faced by counties and unitaries

By Cllr Matthew Hicks | 12 February 2026

The Government’s decision to pay the bulk of SEND deficits is a relief, but sensible decisions on reorganisation are crucial to delivering substantial saving...

BUSINESS

The art of the deal

By Cllr Stephen Alambritis | 12 February 2026

Stephen Alambritis says local authorities need to think commercially to thrive – and he explains what one London council’s £186m deal proves.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman