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Councillors say ‘Yes’ to joint workforce
Ref : 07/075: Date : 26-07-2007
Adur and Worthing councils have said ‘Yes’ to the plan to have one workforce providing shared services.
The two councils have agreed that this unique arrangement, the first in the country, should go ahead and work to get the project rolling will start soon.
The plan set out to see if having a single workforce providing shared services would make savings, reduce costs and at the same time provide better services to the people of Adur and Worthing. All the research and findings so far suggest this is the case.
Full integration of services is expected to take up to three years with savings of more than £.5 million a year being made on the senior officer structure in that time. Further savings can be anticipated from changing business systems and working more economically.
One of the first steps will be to employ Ian Lowrie, current chief executive of Adur Council and interim chief executive of Worthing Borough Council as the new joint chief executive from 1 September 2007.
Three strategic directors and 10 executive heads of service will be appointed. These appointments will be made before Christmas. This will mean the loss of the posts of one director and seven senior managers.
Agreement has also been reached on having a joint set of priorities which will direct the work of the two councils over the coming years. They are :
- To protect and enhance priority services
- To promote a clean green environment
- To revitalise, regenerate and create lively economies
- To support and contribute to the health, safety and wellbeing of the area
All the information about this partnership is available on the two council’s websites and workers have been kept informed, including the unions, throughout the process which started last October.
Council bosses say they will continue to keep staff informed and will want their input to bring services together effectively over the next two years.
The two council leaders believe this partnership is the only way forward to minimise damage to frontline services and keep council tax down.
Adur Council leader, Neil Parkin said: “Doing nothing and staying as we are is not an option. This way we protect our key services for the benefit of residents in Adur and Worthing. Without taking this step frontline services would have to be cut. I would emphasise that both councils are separate entities sharing one workforce.”
Worthing Borough Council leader, Keith Mercer said: “I am pleased that our Council has agreed to sign up to partnership working with our neighbours. It’s happening just in time, as the Government is continuing to load more duties and responsibilities upon both of us without giving us the right level of funding. We have to make this plan work!”
Ends
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