A HUGE overhaul of how Redditch Council operates could lead to private organisations being brought in to manage the Palace Theatre, Forge Mill Museum and the Countryside Centre.

At a full council meeting on Monday, Leader David Cartwright unveiled an ambitious three-year plan to save more than £2 million and invest £800,000 in new projects.

The proposals, which will result in the council delivering far fewer services itself, were announced following a massive review to balance the books of the £35 million annual budget.

Some cost-cutting proposals have been axed after consultation, including a council tax rise and a plan to close the Information Kiosk.

The final cuts will result in a £965,000 saving in the first year, which will be spent on concessionary bus fares, antisocial behaviour officers and community service officers.

Mr Cartwright said: "We intend to make further savings of £1 million through shared partners.

''We will look for partners across the county, even outside the county, with the voluntary sector and other organisations to deliver some or all of the professional and support services.''

These will include IT, community centres, neighbourhood development, the Countryside Centre, Forge Mill Museum, the Palace Theatre and leisure facilities.

Mr Cartwright said: "These proposals will change the council and how it operates. It will provide less but influence more.

''It will enable and facilitate activity and its role in the future is to be the voice of Redditch, not the provider of everything.''

CCTV is to be expanded and £1 million a year for three years is to be spent on improving estates across the town.

Money will also be ploughed into an annual festival, expanding youth provision and community transport.

The council's four priority areas for the next three years are housing and health, leisure, environment and community safety.

"There is now a clear vision, not windy rhetoric, backed up by the financial changes and the political will which will make it happen," said Mr Cartwright.

The budget was adopted, although the Conservative group voted against the cuts.

Group leader Carole Gandy said they supported various income-generation proposals and some one-off savings which would not hit services.

But they did not support cuts in grants to voluntary bodies, a reduction in the economic development department and a number of other unspecified redundancies which would impact on services.

Tory Mike Braley said cuts within economic development showed Labour's ''short-sighted approach to local government''.

He added: "With recent concern regarding Jaguar, MG Rover and Land Rover and our town's reliance on the automotive industry, this decision is irresponsible."