Councils’ sharing services plan nominated for award

A ground-breaking deal between five councils, which are nearly 100 miles apart, has been short-listed for a prestigious public sector award.

The Five Councils Partnership is the first time local authorities have looked beyond their immediate neighbours to share services. The councils are South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council and Mendip District Council.  East Hampshire District Council is also involved through services already shared with Havant.

The deal, which should save the councils around £40m, has been nominated in the Most Innovative Service Delivery Model category of the LGC’s 2017 awards. The shared services are being provided by Capita, one of the UK’s leading business process and support companies, and VINCI Facilities, with experience across the UK and Europe, and its partners Arcadis and Indigo. The services are already live in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

Cllr John Cotton, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I am glad this pioneering partnership has been recognised and shortlisted for an LGC Award. The financial pressures facing the public sector are shared by every council in the country. If we are to carry on delivering the quality of services our residents expect it is vital we find novel solutions to these challenges.

“Councils that share services with neighbouring authorities are becoming more common but we have shown there is no reasoson why any group of councils that share similar values and common goals cannot join forces equally as effectively.

“This complex partnership of councils, ranged across such a large geographical area, is one of national significance.”

The partnership will present its model to a judging panel in January and will find out if it has won at a ceremony on March 8.

SOURCE: Press release