A MULTI-MILLION pound contract looks set to transform the way local government services are delivered across the county - and generate thousands of jobs.

Information technology specialist Agilisys is expected to be confirmed as the preferred company to work in partnership with nine local councils to improve services for customers and help to meet the e-Government IT requirements over the next ten years.

Ultimately the 750,000 residents in the region will be able to make one-stop phone calls, interactive internet calls and send e-mails to make any local authority inquiries.

Hambleton, Richmondshire, and Harrogate are the latest authorities to approve Agilisys as the preferred bidder - along with City of York Council and Ryedale District Council.

North Yorkshire County Council, Scarborough Borough Council and Selby District Council are considering the bid today.

If successful, the new contract, worth hundreds of millions of pounds, will generate 2,000 new jobs in the area.

Kevin Lavery, chief executive of Agilisys, said: "The team that put the bid together will be the team that will work with the councils to achieve improvements to a range of council services and also introduce enhanced services that will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"At the same time each local authority will retain its own identity and this will enable its council tax payers to access a range of services via the internet and e-mail as well as via existing conventional methods."

The nine councils have been searching for a supplier to deliver customer improvements for 14 months.

Mick Phythian, Ryedale District Council's ICT Manager, said: "We have recommended Agilisys as the preferred bidder.

"We are confident that, having followed a careful evaluation process, their bid is most likely to deliver the best solution for the partnership and ultimately improve access to services for all residents in North Yorkshire."

Agilisys was formed 11 months ago, when it broke away from York-based facilities management firm, Jarvis.