Joint working consultation

Stratford-on-Avon District residents, local businesses, Parish and Town Councils, voluntary groups and partners are being given the chance to have their say on the District Council's joint working proposals with Cherwell and South Northants District Councils.

On Monday, 15 December, the District Council's Council agreed to pursue a joint working option with Cherwell and South Northants which is now subject to public consultation ahead of a final business case being put to Councillors early next year.

The joint working option is to help address the funding gap which could help to save money by reducing running costs.

The Councils have prepared a draft business case which sets out options for joint working and includes a variety of scenarios which assess different services that could be considered.  These range from support or back office services to all services including frontline and customer facing.

The business case also sets out options about how joint working could be organised. These options include shared service approaches which would likely include a number of shared senior management roles.

As well as shared service approaches the draft business case also reviews alternative options such as outsourcing services, budget and staffing reductions and establishing Council owned companies as potential ways to deliver the savings required.

The options outlined in the draft business case are centred on collaboration and joint working where it makes financial sense to do so. The options are also aimed to ensure each of the three Councils retains its individual sovereignty and their focus on local priorities whilst working in partnership.

The consultation started on Thursday 18 December and will run until Friday 6 February 2015. The online survey is available at www.stratford.gov.uk/council/joint-working-proposals.cfm and on the front page of the District Council's website.