Councils pair up after no-vote from North Dorset

By dadcock

EAST Dorset District Council is to merge its management team with neighbouring Christchurch under one chief executive.

But the arrangement is second choice for both East Dorset and Christchurch Borough Council.

They had hoped to form a cluster of three councils with North Dorset District Council.

But North Dorset declined the offer to join them after deciding it had already pared down its staff and costs and would not benefit from the merger.

In a joint statement the councils expressed their disappointment at North Dorset's decision not to proceed with the proposal to create an eastern cluster of three councils with one management team.

They will continue to work with North Dorset to share services where there is mutual benefit such as a joint revenues and benefits project.

East Dorset leader Spencer Flower said: "The current economic climate means all councils face a difficult financial future.

"Working together in partnership means we can protect and continue to invest in local council services and provide better value for money for our residents.

"Keeping East Dorset and Christchurch councils separate (from North Dorset) also means that councillors can continue to make the right decisions for the people of their own area."

Councillor Alan Griffiths, leader of Christchurch Borough Council, added: "Christchurch and East Dorset councils have been working together to deliver some services jointly for many years.

"We will now accelerate our programme and reap the benefits of a single management team at the earliest opportunity.

"We aim to improve services overall so the public benefits directly from our partnership.

"This also gives us the opportunity to reduce risks and achieve efficiency savings. We will be healthier, leaner and more cost effective as a result."

North Dorset stated it had already gone through cost-cutting measures over the past four years including management reductions and was comfortable in the way councillors and senior officers worked together.

But it pledged its support for partnership working where there would be benefits, sound business cases and improvements in services to the public.

Leader of North Dorset Peter Webb said: "We have thought long and hard about the proposal to join management teams and there are many factors which we believe do not provide any advantage to us, our council or our residents."

North Dorset agreed to back a pilot project with Dorset County Council and the Primary Care Trust under the national Total Place initiative in delivering public services that aims to reduce duplications and costs between public agencies.

The current focus in Dorset is on care for the elderly.

North Dorset will continue to work in partnership on issues including a county-wide waste management project, merging its revenues and benefits team with east Dorset and Christchurch, a county procurement project and some joint housing initiatives.

Dee Adcock