OXFORD City Council’s private contractor arm is set to make £1.4m profit this year, a meeting will hear tonight.

Oxford Direct Services, which carries out road repairs, street cleaning and deals with waste, could also generate an additional £300,000 dividend, documents show.

The company was set up by the council to cut out the need for hiring more expensive private companies. Profits will go back into the authority’s coffers.

Members of public are welcome to sit in on the council’s companies scrutiny panel at town hall from 6pm.