Shared services
From surviving to thriving
Rob Barlow outlines the progress Boston BC and East Lindsey DC have made eight months into their Strategic Alliance, including a joint approach to workforce development.
Talks start over sharing chief executive
Talks on two neighbouring councils sharing a chief executive are to start ‘straight away’ after the managing director of one struck a deal to leave.
South Holland and Breckland to break up partnership
South Holland and Breckland DCs are to end their decade-long partnership, with a final decision due at the end of the month.
Blow for tri-borough shared service
The back office support service shared by three London boroughs has been dealt a blow.
Warwickshire districts vote on reorganisation
Stratford DC is to vote next week on plans to create a ‘super district’ with neighbouring Warwick DC.
West Sussex to appoint joint chief executive
West Sussex CC has announced a new improvement plan which will see neighbouring East Sussex CC’s chief executive take on a joint chief executive post.
Review questions benefits of shared services provider
A review of LGSS found ‘no evidence’ the councils benefited through sharing some services.
Your perfect partner?
Diary hears that the Local Government Association has created a ‘matchmaking service’ for councils to share experiences and services.
Councils urged to ‘shine a light’ on services to improve them
A shared services company has urged councils to look at alternative ways of working.
The biggest challenge in local government
Last week, James Brokenshire announced the reorganisation of Northamptonshire CC – a year later than was originally planned. Heather Jameson speaks to chief executive Theresa Grant and her commissioners on progress at the crisis-hit county.
Oxfordshire councils to extend joint working arrangements
Two councils are considering extending their working partnership in a move they hope will trigger a ‘broader conversation’ on local government organisation.
Councils to save £90,000 by sharing top staff
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough councils have announced plans to share more of their top personnel in order to make efficiency savings.
Broadland and South Norfolk share new managing director
Broadland and South Norfolk DCs have named Trevor Holden as their first joint managing director.
Singing from the same hymn sheet
Kevin Foster, David Kuenssberg and Sheila Little outline their hopes for a shared services partnership between Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and Surrey councils, and explain how brand identity is a vital thing to keep.
Are there too many tiers?
The multi-tiered nature of local government is holding the sector back, argues Bob Neill.
New frontiers for shared services
When four authorities who successfully shared services for an number of years set up a jointly-owned company, the aim was to radically transfom services to better reflect local objectives, as James Hawkins and Amardeep Gill explain
Richmond and Wandsworth: The power of two
Paul Martin speaks to Heather Jameson about Richmond upon Thames RLBC and Wandsworth LBC's shared services arrangements.
How digital innovation can aid new partnerships
With council merger, combined authority and joint management plans especially active in the South West The MJ and BT hosted a round table dinner with prominent chief executives from the region to discuss how digital innovation can help progress cross-boundary collaboration. Sam Clayden reports.
Newcastle to transfer 200 council workers to Northumberland under merger plans
Newcastle City Council has approved plans to transfer staff to Northumberland Council as part of plans to share transactional services.
Devon councils consider sharing some planning functions
Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council are considering joining forces to deliver planning services.
