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Decision on joint management for councils gets 'green light'

Friday 26 February

EDDC and South Somerset District Council, the two biggest district councils in the South West, this week agreed proposals to share a joint management team.

Both councils approved a joint report that identified how the councils could save millions of pounds by operating with a shared management team in what officers and councillors call “the biggest district partnership in England”.

The report set out the efficiencies that could be gained from a shared chief executive, management team, joint procurement and shared specialist positions at both authorities.

The first phase will see both councils share a Chief Executive and councillors approved a request from Phil Dolan, Chief Executive at South Somerset District Council for early retirement.

Councillors then met and interviewed Mark Williams, Chief Executive at East Devon District Council, and have now agreed to appoint him to the joint position. Mr Williams will take up his new role as from Monday 22 March 2010.

Separate authorities

East Devon made its decision on Wednesday 24 February, while South Somerset's Full Council met last night (25 February) to confirm its position.

Both councils will remain separate authorities and will retain their own councillors and serve their existing populations, with most changes affecting management and support service roles.

The new arrangements have been agreed in order to preserve services for residents, save council taxpayers money and to respond to cuts in Government funding over the coming years.

Councillor 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 proposed by 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”.

Councillor Tim Carroll, Leader of South Somerset District Council says: “All councils are well aware of the money we need to save in the coming years as part of a public sector squeeze. This partnership with East Devon DC is a significant and unique achievement in the local government world.

Savings

“To allow us to continue delivering the extent and quality of services that we do now, but at the same time to meet the savings that will be demanded of us, we needed a solution.

“Our council taxpayers quite naturally expect us as a local authority to explore all avenues for savings that avoid radical cuts to services.

“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 4 years, this rate is not sufficient for the future without impacting on the things we do and the services we provide.”

A Joint Integration Committee comprising five councillors from each council will now start work on a report setting out a phased approach to delivering savings.

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