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Joining Forces? - Will it work?
Ref : 07/016 : Date : 05-02-2007
Adur and Worthing Councils are considering what they think of joining forces
to provide services together, but keeping two separate councils.
Over the next month all staff will be able to consider and comment on the business case. This business case sets out the vision and objectives of the project which are to maintain and improve services but reduce the cost of providing them and at the same time keep the two areas separate and distinct.
Consultants Capita have been appointed to test and challenge the proposals They have until the end of February to make their recommendations.
A report will be presented to councillors of both authorities who will make their decision in March on whether to work up these ideas in more detail.
This report will look into the major issues such as finance, local democracy, human resources and customer needs and highlight the benefits and possible pitfalls of such a move. It will outline the challenges facing smaller councils to provide modern quality services yet keep council tax down.
If the proposal is adopted then work could start to merge some services later this year with others being phased in over two years. The two local authorities would then be managed by a single senior management team.
One issue emerging from the work so far is that in order for the partnership to work Adur District Council would need to consider changing from its current committee system to a cabinet in line with Worthing Borough Council.
Adur Council and Worthing council’s interim chief executive, Ian Lowrie said: “All we are doing at present is considering the high level work we have done so far on this project. We need to be sure that this proposal will serve the customers of the two councils and reduce overheads before taking any major decisions. It is only right that we should do this thoroughly.”
Ends
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