The leader of Cheshire East is to write to the Prime Minister on behalf of the council urging him to outlaw fire and rehire.

But a proposal put forward by a Labour councillor to make changes to the council's procurement policies, with the aim of preventing contracts going to companies who use fire and rehire, failed after Conservative and Independent members of the Corporate Policy Committee voted against it or abstained.

Fire and rehire involves workers having to reapply for their jobs on worse pay, terms and conditions or face the sack.

The matter was being discussed at the meeting after a motion was put to full council in October by Crewe councillors Laura Smith and Connor Naismith.

Cllr Naismith, speaking as a visiting councillor, told the committee: "While I acknowledge the council itself does not engage in this practice, I think we have a clear interest in ensuring we have strong employment standards across Cheshire East, not just in relation to those jobs we directly create or commission."

He urged the council to formally sign up to the TUC charter and said: "Finally, I would just like to know what more could be done to ensure that those working for companies commissioned by the council to deliver services enjoy the same standards as if they were working directly for the council."

He asked if scored questions, relating to fire and rehire, collective bargaining with unions and the living wage, could be included in the social value assessment contracts.

This was later put forward as a formal amendment by committee member Nick Mannion (Macclesfield West & Ivy, Lab) who requested officers look at the possibility and report back, and it was this the Conservatives and Independents wouldn't support.

But a proposal put forward by leader Sam Corcoran (Lab) that the council notes the TUC campaign for a new deal for working people, and encourages businesses in the borough to consider how they may also support best employment practice, was supported unanimously.

The wording had been changed from 'promoting the TUC campaign' to 'noting' it.

Conservative group leader Janet Clowes was furious Cllr Mannion had proposed his amendment without any prior warning.

"I really object to being blindsided by really quite significant recommendations and the amendment, at a meeting," she said, adding it should come forward as a separate agenda item at a future meeting.

"I am more than happy to adapt to processes recommended by Acas and other like non-politicised bodies, and we do do that.

"I feel really quite cross that I'm being blindsided to make decisions on the hoof without the proper research and information available to me."

Cllr Rod Fletcher (Alsager, Lib Dem) said: "Obviously, this abhorrent practice [fire and rehire] has grown in recent years. It's just totally not acceptable.

"I fully support the recommendations and the amendment, although I'm not sure whether it's strong enough. I hope it is. But I do feel it's lacking in teeth.

"We're going to write to the Prime Minister, whether he'll take any notice in view of his recent behaviour I doubt, but still, I support writing to him."

Earlier in the meeting Cllr Anthony Critchley (Crewe Central, Lab), speaking as a visiting councillor, had told the committee this was their chance to show their support for the low paid workers, particularly key workers and 'assure our residents that, before giving any employer public money, we carry out some due diligence'.

The vote to write to the Prime Minister was only just carried with five councillors voting for, four against and three abstaining.