Harrow Borough Council says only ten library jobs will be at risk under a new outsourcing contract that has been criticised by a union.

Harrow Unison says the council did not consult its members properly over plans that the union claims could see 29 members of staff lose their jobs.

The contract, agreed by cabinet in June this year, awarded the contract to run library services in Harrow and the neighbouring borough of Ealing for the next ten years to John Laing Integrated Services Ltd (JLIS).

The council's director for community and culture Marianne Locke said: “An initial figure of 29 potential redundancies was outlined to the Council by JLIS during discussions on July 3, however the council was not satisfied that this was an accurate figure.

“For this reason the council felt it was not appropriate to pass this information on to staff at this point.

"On July 31, the council received formal notification about JLIS's intention to consult staff, once the contract had been transferred, about a restructure involving potential redundancies.

“This notification again gave the figure of 29 and the council was legally obliged at this point to pass this information on to staff.

“On August 1, JLIS confirmed to the council and the trade unions that due to vacancies that had occurred since its initial plans, it was more likely that ten roles would be at risk once transferred to JLIS."