WORCESTERSHIRE County Council is using the latest technology to save money.

The council, which is trying to save £25 million over three years, has used e-Auctions when awarding contracts to companies to get the best deal.

Last month the council held an e-Auction to offer contracts for home-to-school transport and a bus service, resulting in efficiency savings on both.

An e-Auction works like e-Bay, but in reverse. Bids to carry out work on behalf of the council go down instead of up.

It uses technology provided by Bravosolutions and paid for by West Midlands Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, a development partnership that supports all 38 councils in the region.

Councillor Derek Prodger, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “This is an excellent, innovative concept that is making real savings for the county council that can be re-invested into services or used to save services which would otherwise be discontinued.

“It was decided that we would use the e-Auction on the transport routes for home-to-school travel and local buses.

“This has proved in the past few months to be hugely successful.”

Patrick Birch, Worcestershire County Council’s director of corporate services, said: “The growth of the internet and computer technology has opened up enormous opportunities for us to streamline the procurement process.”

In July authorities from across the country visited County Hall to see how e-Auctioning worked.