Exploring new opportunities

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has held a preliminary meeting with Malvern Hills District Council to explore whether there might be benefit for their two Councils in developing an alliance to operate services. The Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive met their opposite numbers at Malvern and have asked the two Chief Executives to look at this in more detail prior to a follow up meeting in early February.

The District Council and Warwick District Council set up a Working Group last year to examine the opportunities to set up a shared management team and shared services. The Working Group concluded that they should not pursue shared management due to other pressures on the Councils but they would continue to examine the options for shared services.

Councillor Stephen Gray, Leader Stratford District Council says: “We spent a long time talking with Warwick but with all partnerships there have to be benefits on both sides and as discussions progressed it was clear that this would not be the case.  There seems to be great similarities between Malvern Hills District Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council differently to Warwick and I am hopeful that this may present both Councils with potential benefits.

“Stratford District Council has been working in partnership with a number of Councils for a few years.  Given the scale of the financial settlement, it is only natural that the District Council quizzes like minded Councils in order to look a further savings options.  Any partnership must benefit both Councils and council tax payers alike."