Councils to share senior managers

Bolsover District Council and North East Derbyshire District Council already share their chief executive, Wes Lumley, who was appointed in April. They currently have a total of six directors – three within each council – who report to the Mr Lumley. These will now be reduced to four, shared between the authorities.

Once the directors are in place the councils will consider whether further costs can be saved by sharing their next tier of managers and by providing some services jointly.

The move to cut management costs is the latest stage of a ground-breaking Strategic Alliance between the two councils, which was launched in April 2011. It will be rolled out over the next two years, eventually saving around £1.5 million per year.

Although the councils are reducing management costs and are looking at whether any of their services can be organised jointly, they have stressed that they will keep their separate geographic, political and administrative boundaries.

Leader of Bolsover District Council, cllr Eion Watts said: "The funding we both receive for providing services to our local communities has been significantly reduced. So we cannot just stand still and do nothing. That's why we are taking this strong, positive action so we can make the savings needed without having to cut the vital services our residents rely on."

Leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, cllr Graham Baxter MBE said: "Bolsover and North East Derbyshire have an excellent record of working in partnership, going back many years. Even before our Alliance was launched we were sharing some key functions such as ICT and procurement. We will continue to work together – and with other councils and local organisations – to look at more ways to share our resources during these challenging times."

For more information
Web: www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk