Councils to look at merging over services (From Yeovil Express)

Councils to look at merging over services

5:00pm Friday 11th December 2009

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COUNCILLORS at South Somerset and East Devon district councils have agreed to explore the possibility of joint management and shared services between the two authorities.

Both councils will now work together to develop a joint strategy that will look at options for a productive partnership, which would include a joint management team under a shared chief executive.

New arrangements are being considered in order to preserve services for residents, save council taxpayers money and to respond to cuts in Government funding over the coming years.

If the proposals went ahead, both councils would remain separate authorities that would retain their own councillors and serve their existing populations, with the most changes affecting management and support service roles.

Cllr Tim Carroll, leader of South Somerset District Council, said: “Our residents value their clean streets, waste removal, recycling, and all the other frontline services we offer, but they are less concerned about how many managers we have, who the chief executive is or how we deliver our support services.

“All councils are well aware of the money we will all need to save in the coming years. We take great pride in what has been achieved here and we all want this success to continue - our residents expect it.

“To allow us to continue delivering the extent and quality of services that we do now at the same time as meeting the savings that will inevitably be needed, we need an alternative solution and East Devon are of the same mind frame.

“We must be proactive to retain the things that our residents want.

“Government grants to councils look set to reduce by at least 12 per cent over the next three years and whilst we have exceeded our savings targets over the last four years, this rate is not sufficient for the future.”

Cllr Sara Randall Johnson, leader of East Devon District Council, said: “All councils are facing some very tough challenges as we cope with the impact of the recession, falling income and the need to preserve and improve frontline services.

“We need to be imaginative in finding solutions to these challenges and that includes looking at the shared services agenda.

“Working closely with neighbouring councils to save costs and share best practice is preferable to the unitary model currently being proposed by the Government.

“Members of EDDC have signalled their willingness to explore joint working and sharing managers; the possibility of a closer relationship with SSDC is an example of this and we are pleased to explore the mutual advantages this could offer”.

Chief executive of South Somerset, Phil Dolan, said: “This is an exciting opportunity. A number of councils, nationally, are already working very successfully together and delivering savings that run into millions.

“However a partnership of the two biggest districts in the South West, will also be the biggest such partnership arrangement in England. We are confident that bigger councils can equal bigger savings.”

East Devon’s chief executive, Mark Williams, added: “There are good synergies between the two councils in terms of their size, culture and consistent leadership and this is an exciting development.”

The authorities will now work on a report, which will look at the efficiencies that could be gained from a shared chief executive, management team, joint procurement, shared specialist positions and shared management of a host of teams at both councils.

The report will come back to both councils in February.

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