A YORK IT company is set to win a groundbreaking contract worth hundreds of millions of pounds, generating 2,000 new jobs and transforming local government services in the region.

Agilisys is expected to be confirmed as preferred bidder for a public-private partnership contract to bring integrated "high tech solutions" to services at nine local councils over the next ten years.

Ultimately the 750,000 people in York and North Yorkshire will be able to make one-stop phone calls, send e-mails or make interactive internet calls to deal with their local authority concerns.

People will, for instance, be able to electronically submit or study planning applications, renew library books, notify changes of address for council tax purposes or even pay car parking fines, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

City of York Council is the sixth of nine local authorities to approve Agilisys as preferred bidder - along with Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Ryedale Councils.

Selby District Council and North Yorkshire County Council consider Agilisys' bid tomorrow, while Scarborough Borough Council will decide on April 1.

Dave Shaw, project manager for the North Yorkshire IT Partnership, said: "We have recommended Agilisys as the preferred bidder, because we are confident that, following a careful evaluation process, its bid is most likely to deliver the best solution for the partnership - and ultimately residents in North Yorkshire."

Agilysis was formed only last April, when it broke away as the systems and technology arm of the York-based facilities management giant, Jarvis, to become a separate company, while still servicing the £1-billion-turnover plc.

Should the deal go ahead, Agilisys will double its workforce to 800 over the next two years, and hundreds of further jobs will be created through its IT sub-contractors in the area.

Managing director Kevin Lavery said: "The team that put the bid together will be the team that will work with councils to achieve improvements to a range of council services, and also introduce enhanced services that will be constantly accessible.

"Council tax payers will be able to access a range of services via the Internet, e-mail and advanced voice recognition technology, as well as existing conventional methods."

City of York Council leader Dave Merrett said: "By signing up Agilisys as our partner, the council has a great opportunity to radically change the way we work and significantly improve services for our customers."

Updated: 10:26 Monday, March 24, 2003