STAFF who run Southampton's libraries, swimming pools and art galleries will be thrown into chaos by plans to transfer them to an independent trust, union leaders have warned.

All 500 people currently working for the council's leisure services would be employed by the non-profit-making organisation if the plan goes ahead. However, Brian Tucker, secretary of the Southampton Unison branch, which represents 3,000 council workers, warned that working conditions would be worse and workers' pensions put at risk as they would not be automatically moved to the new trust.

He said: "The working conditions and pension arrangements of staff transferred over from the council will be affected.

"We are concerned they will not be able to remain in the local government pension scheme."

He added: "We have a number of other concerns about the trust which will be run by a board that is unaccountable and unelected.

"So far there has been no public consultation. And we believe the trust will be built around the idea of selling off existing council assets."

Southampton City Council spokesman David Langridge said it was still early days for the plans and that a decision would be taken next month by councillors as to whether to set aside money to pay for a feasibility study into the scheme.

"There are more than 100 leisure trusts across the country. It's nothing new," he said.

Leisure chiefs have argued that the scheme could save about a £1m a year from the council's annual £18m leisure services bill if it eventually gets the go-ahead.

Thousands of pounds a year could be saved by the charitable trust, which would be exempt from business rates on council buildings and leisure facilities. The trust would also be able to claim back VAT on leisure services, which the council cannot do at present.

Leisure chiefs do not believe that transferring facilities to a trust would lead to increased costs to people using libraries and other council leisure services.