Plans to outsource local leisure service to a charitable trust look set to be thrown out by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of a recommendation to keep the services in-house at last week’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, after hearing the findings of a group tasked to investigate this option.

The services include leisure centres, swimming pools and libraries.

An officer’s report stated that public consultation and trade union feedback was in favour of facilities remaining under the council’s control, and it was ‘not viable’ to set up an independent trust to deal with these services.

Trade union UNISON described the decision as a ‘victory for local democracy’, stating that the move will safeguard more than 400 jobs and protect community life.

Cllr Bob Kilmister told councillors that savings would still need to be found, and suggested that time could be bought by using money from reserves.

He said: “The concern I have is that the council will have semi-budgeted on that course of action and now we have to make some very big decisions.”

Cllr Keith Lewis added that a Plan B was needed.

He said: “A plan has to be found where savings can be achieved and services can be maintained.”

Committee chairman Cllr Rhys Sinnett added: “We do not want a knee-jerk response in terms of reducing services to make things balance in the short term. We would like to see a measured response from officers and cabinet as this issue moves forward.”

The council paid private consultant Winckworth Sherwood £20,000 to advise on how to save money by outsourcing of libraries, leisure centres and sports pitches to a charitable trust.

The move drew criticism from UNISON who said transferring services out of democratic control would deny local people a say in how services are run, and led a public campaign against outsourcing.

Branch secretary Janet Wyer said: “Every step of the way, we said to the council, we know the pressures you are under because of severe UK Conservative cuts but outsourcing would deliver only short term savings and it would be calamitous for all those local services we all hold dear. If local services are under pressure, councils should work with staff and trades unions to find a solution.

She added: “Outsourcing would have failed the people of Pembrokeshire and local services are always best delivered by staff directly employed by the council.”