|
Currently, 20 per cent of district councils in England already
have aformal partnership arrangement with a neighbouring district
or seriously considering it. The reason for this is tohelp save
council taxpayers money, preserve services for residents and
to respond to expected cuts in Government funding over the coming
years.
Experience in other parts of the country shows that efficiencies
can be gained from a shared chief executive, management team, joint
procurement and shared specialist positions at both
authorities.
Councils much smaller than either South Somerset or East Devon
have reported savings of £1.5 million a year. If, for example,
these two councils simply shared a management structure and nothing
else, it could produce a combined annual saving of around £2.5
million.
|