BACK-ROOM staff at Hampshire fire, police and county councils could end up sharing services.

But unions are concerned the move will mean job losses, cuts in services and more privatisation.

The county council, Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) are the three largest public sector organisations in the county, with a combined budget of £1billion and 36,347 full-time equivalent staff, excluding schools.

Five areas have been earmarked for integration – purchasing, ICT, finance and payroll, human resources and occupational health and well-being.

The idea, which was approved by the county council Cabinet, is that a new body will run these corporate services.

At present, the joint spending in these areas is £67.8million with 1,196 staff on the payroll, the vast majority of whom are employed by the county council.

One-off set-up costs are estimated at up to £3.7m, including redundancy pay-offs and pensions contributions.

For example, there will be only one head of human resources instead of three.

Savings are expected to be achieved by reduced overheads such as shared IT systems, fewer managers and increased purchasing power.

In addition, civic chiefs are considering opportunities for joint working in training, transport, research, estates, facilities management, corporate communication, press office and legal services.

Conservative council boss Councillor Ken Thornber said: “The three organisations will retain their identities and strategic responsibility for their own operations.”

He added the police and fire services had been run as part of the county council 15 to 20 years ago when they shared legal services and human resources.

HFRS has also approved the business case but Hampshire Police Authority asked for more information and will re-consider it.

Peter Terry, regional organiser for Unison in Hampshire, said unions were not opposed, in principle, to joint working.

But Mr Terry said: “Very often these things mean job losses, cuts in pay and conditions, poorer services and out-sourcing then take place.”