THE leader of Worcester City Council has defended plans to spend £1.5 million of taxpayers' money on rubbish trucks and sweepers - rejecting criticism the move is "strange".

As your Worcester News revealed last month, the council is overhauling its fleet of vehicles and equipment in the 'cleaner and greener' department despite looking to outsource most of its functions from 2017.

Due to concerns the 67 vehicles are becoming increasingly "clapped out" bosses have opted to replace the oldest ones now, saying the maintenance costs are becoming too high.

It has to led to criticism from Labour Councillor Simon Cronin, who says public money is going towards ultimately benefitting a private company.

"It does seem rather strange, it seems we're spending money replacing clapped out vehicles so a private company benefits," he said.

Leader Councillor Simon Geraghty, speaking during a full council meeting, blamed the old Labour administration for a lack of investment back in 2013.

"It is not strange at all, having the right fleet is something that should be just business as usual," he said.

"We have a process for replacing old vehicles, that's completely normal - but when we returned as the administration (in May 2014) we did inherit some vehicles that in my view, were not up to the job.

"So let's not have any nonsense about this."

The 2013/14 financial year was the only period under Labour control at the city council this century.

During the debate Councillor Geraghty also said that once the outsourcing was complete, he still expected a council logo to appear on the refuse trucks.

Some councillors questioned as to whether a private company might want its own branding on the lorries, shunting the authority to the side.

Councillor Geraghty insisted: "We want the public to be very aware of the services they get in return for the taxation they pay.

"So I'd expect in terms of the branding, to see some sort of recognition of where the resource comes from - the exact form of that branding will need to be negotiated, but we'd seek to ensure that happens."

The council wants to team up with authorities in Malvern and Wychavon to outsource bin collections to a private firm from September 2017, aimed at saving a combined £1.6 million per year.

Street sweeping and parks maintenance will also be outsourced, with 111 staff implicated.

But £1.5 million will go on seven new street sweepers, three refuse pick-up trucks and another nine vehicles for workers to use before then, saving an estimated £100,000 in yearly maintenance costs.