Cash boost will aid further joint working

Three councils are in line for a cash boost aimed at helping them work more closely together.

Cherwell District, South Northamptonshire and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils will benefit from £900,000 from the government's Transformation Challenge Award 2015-16. The grant will help the three councils broaden their existing approach to shared services by building on the successful arrangements already in place. It will bring together three councils as joint commissioners of local services, thereby increasing efficiency and quality through economies of scale, joint procurement and by sharing technology.

Cherwell and South Northamptonshire have shared senior management and some services for several years, which has already led to in excess of £3 million in annual savings. Since 2012 Stratford has been working with Cherwell and South Northamptonshire to explore the potential of joint working to deliver shared services at reduced cost.

The news today follows two earlier transformation grants totalling £667,000 shared between Cherwell District, South Northamptonshire and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils, and a grant of £475,000 for the three councils to share with South Staffordshire Council.

Cllr Barry Wood, leader of Cherwell District Council, said: "Our objective is to improve the quality of services for all three councils whilst reducing the cost of providing them - a winning scenario for residents in all three districts. Our approach will encompass the benefits of shared working and the flexibility offered by alternative delivery models."

Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Cllr Chris Saint, added: "Councils are still being challenged to make substantial savings whilst improving frontline services. Cherwell has been at the forefront of this by increasingly sharing services with South Northamptonshire. Now we want to look at further joint working with Cherwell and South Northamptonshire and the role of all three councils as pioneers in this area had been recognised by the Government with this award."

Cllr Mary Clarke, leader of South Northamptonshire Council said: "Joint working has proved a big winner and now it's time to explore the further possibilities that are opening up to us. The councils will use this funding to deliver new forms of governance, ensuring services are commissioned jointly. We will look to move beyond shared support services and explore access to professional advice to ensure our governance proposal is legal, flexible and democratically accountable."

Shared service development and new delivery approaches will be aimed at further driving down costs and greater income generation.

The Transformation Challenge Award is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to support authorities who use an innovative approach to best practice resulting in financial savings and the preservation of council services.