East Riding and North Lincolnshire Councils to explore sharing services

EAST RIDING COUNCIL MAY OPT TO SHARE SERVICES and management costs with North Lincolnshire Council under a radical proposal for the two Conservative controlled authorities to collaborate.

North Lincolnshire

Councillor Liz Redfern, the newly-elected leader of North Lincolnshire Council has met with the leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Stephen Parnaby, OBE, to explore the possibility of working together with a view to improving services for residents and bringing savings for both authorities.

Both councils face difficult times ahead. East Riding Council has to make £30m cuts over the next four years and North Lincolnshire Council is making £25m cuts over the same period.

East Riding Council had previously supported a plan to work with Hull City Council on closer economic cooperation via a Local Enterprise Partnership plan, but the new proposal could engender a far more formal arrangement with the authorities deciding to share senior management costs.

A press release issued by the East Riding Council has indicated that initial talks have already taken place with senior councillors from both authorities, and they are now to establish a working group where all possibilities will be looked at.

Councillor Parnaby explained: “Many small district councils are already sharing some services, but we believe this could be a first with two large unitary councils looking to work closely together. It will be a huge challenge but an exciting one, building on our excellent working relationship.”

Councillor Redfern added: “Both councils have a great deal in common and it will give us a great opportunity to share back office provision as well as expand front line services, but potentially much more. We are in unprecedented times where we have to look imaginatively at funding public services, so the timing is of the essence. However in this context it is important to retain our own unique identities but I hope we can each bring economies that benefit our residents in each of our respective councils.”

Both leaders stressed that in any change the residents would experience even more tailored services and their prime task is an overall reduction in expenditure through the economies of scale, not a compromise in service.