Basildon Council wants to save £10million over a three-year period by giving work to private firms.

The council plans to make the savings by contracting maintenance of its grounds, catering and marketing to outside companies.

The controversial proposal to boost council finances, by March 2013, will be thrashed out by councillors at a meeting tomorrow.

It will form a key part of talks surrounding the council's budget, between April 2010 and March 2011.

Phil Turner, Conservative councillor responsible for resources, said: “Despite the background of a worldwide recession and greater financial pressures on us, we have still managed to deliver significant savings while maintaining a good level of service to our residents.

“We will continue to deliver value for money quality services to our residents, while identifying further savings which reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”

Allan Davies, Labour ward member for Fryerns, voiced his concerns.

He said: “It is important service delivery to the residents of this district comes way before the Tory council’s value-for-money schemes.”

A report on the budget has also recommended spending money on improving leisure services throughout the district.

But the exact council tax rise is still being kept under wraps until a meeting with all councillors on February 18.

Earlier this week, the Echo revealed the council will maintain free weekend parking at council-run car parks for another year, at a cost of about £100,000.

It has also spent another £100,000 as part of Essex County Council’s £320,000 scheme to upgrade paving in Wickford town centre.

Other schemes include spending £70,000 a year on community events, which includes £20,000 on St George’s Day celebrations and £50,000 on the Basildon Festival, plus other summertime events.

Around £30,000 a year will be spent on promotions for the Towngate Theatre, in St Martin’s Square, Basildon, while another £30,000 a year will pay for the upkeep of trees across the district.