Council partnership saves money

Two Dorset councils have signed a landmark document committing them to working together in the future.

The chief executives of Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council, Michael Turvey and David McIntosh, signed a Partnership Agreement that seals the commitment the two authorities have made to share services.
 
The partnership was created in anticipation of an increasingly difficult financial climate and is now of even more significance, with future public sector cuts planned. It will allow both councils to continue to provide residents of Christchurch and East Dorset with high quality services.
 
The two councils have a history of working together and are already collaborating on planning policy matters and developing shared service arrangements for housing and revenues and benefits.
 
Although the two councils will work together using a combined officer structure they will both retain their sovereignty and own identity, and set their own policies and budgets.
 
The first milestone in the partnership will be the appointment of a joint Chief Executive on 20 September, a position which has been ‘ring-fenced’ to the two existing post-holders. A senior management structure has been drawn up which is designed to deliver efficiencies whilst maintaining high quality services. Staff at each council are currently having their say on these proposals before they are implemented from January 2011.
 
Estimated savings from the new senior management structure are approximately £300,000 per year.
 
David McIntosh said: “Many councils across the country are looking into delivering services jointly with a neighbouring authority. Partnerships are definitely the way forward in saving council taxpayers’ money and preserving frontline services for residents.”
 
Michael Turvey said: “The public sector is facing its biggest ever financial challenge and sharing services with East Dorset is a major step forward in combating the Government’s expected funding cuts.”