This will create an integrated youth support service, which will operate as a separate company with a management board comprising representatives from Cheshire County and Warrington Borough Councils and Cheshire and Warrington Connexions.

The decision to merge the service with Connexions was opposed by the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups and the Community and Youth Workers' Union (YPN, 16-22 May, p6) but the outsourcing went ahead after the Tory-run council passed the motion by one vote.

Berni Moore, principal youth officer at the council, said: "This approach has been divisive."

A spokeswoman for the council said it was "early days", but at present there were "no changes to staff contracts". The council's youth service employs about 200 staff.