THE creation of at least 1,000 new jobs is being pledged in work hungry East Cleveland.

The 1,000 new jobs, in addition to hopes for a further 1,000 over the next ten years, comes with an agreement in principle of a partnership deal between Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Liberata, one of the UK's leading business specialists.

The council says the deal will mean greater job security for 800 council workers who will transfer to the payroll of the new company as part of an agreement worth more than £230m over the next decade.

Neighbouring Middlesbrough Council set the precedent in June 2001 when it signed a deal with a private sector company, Hyder Business Services, to run some of its services.

Redcar and Cleveland Council leader David Walsh said: "We have done something quite remarkable in local authority history and managed to cement a human resource package which goes way beyond our workers' legal rights and will give them increased protection for the next ten years - something I could never promise.

"We've got a deal which gives us a degree of savings and the ability to bring in a whole new ICT network which the council has needed for a long time, with the setting up of a customer relationship structure providing answers the first time round."

The 800 council staff who will transfer to Liberata's payroll will range from office cleaners to architects with at least 1,000 further jobs created and aspirations for another 1,000 'within the life of the contract'.