Industrial action which could have devastating effects on Bradford Council services across the district loomed today after a crunch meeting of computer staff.

The staff, who are members of City Hall union Unison, voted overwhelming to hold a ballot, on or about January 5, on whether to take industrial action.

The branch will encourage members to vote for a strike.

The dispute surrounds the Council's decision to bring in an outside partner to deliver its information technology services. The contract would be similar in some aspects to the partnership between the Council and Education Bradford which has brought huge investment into Bradford's schools.

The computer staff have told the Council they want to be seconded to the new partner rather than transferred, with their employment contract staying with the local authority.

They are concerned about the long- term success of the venture and protection of their employment rights. The unions believe the work should stay within the Council because there is no guarantee of success.

The Council workers decided yesterday not to co-operate with the project unless required to under the terms of their employment contract.

Unison regional official Chris Jenkinson said industrial action could start as early as January 25 if the ballot was in favour.

He said the Council had the next few weeks to come up with positive suggestions.

"If it hasn't been able to reassure us by then that people's jobs won't be privatised we will be ready to go forward to ballot," he said.

"These are a key group of workers both internally and externally. There could be a whole host of devastating effects. There was overwhelming support for a ballot. But they are behaving responsibly and would try to minimise the effects on the most disadvantaged, like people receiving benefits."

The Council is examining a short list of contenders and expects to be working with a partner by August.

Vanda Rogers, its director of human resources said: "Positive discussions with the trades unions are continuing.