COMPUTER giant IBM has been chosen by County Hall chiefs to try to save taxpayers £200million a year.

Essex County Council announced yesterday that the American firm had been picked to try to save money from backroom operations and spend it on frontline services as part of a “transformation” of the way the authority is run.

A contract, including break clauses, will now be formally signed later this month.

County council leader Lord Hanningfield said: “IBM has demonstrated its ability to help us deliver our vision of providing the very best quality of service for our residents.

“With the additional capacity, capability and skills that IBM will provide, we are now looking forward to working with them as we move towards a more efficient, customer-focused organisation, providing first-class front-line services.

“Working together, we will also be able to keep council tax low and deliver real value for money for Essex residents.

“This is the most ambitious project that the council has undertaken, and finding the right partner to help us deliver it is a vitally important step.

“I look forward to working with IBM.”

Brendon Riley, chief executive of IBM UK and Ireland, said: “IBM is pleased to have been selected as the strategic partner for Essex County Council’s exciting transformation programme.

“We look forward to supporting the council’s drive to deliver enhanced, high-quality services once the contract has been finalised.”