First full, three-way integration of councils gets green light from councillors

The first full three-way integration of councils has been agreed after Weymouth & Portland Borough Council this week followed North Dorset and West Dorset district councils in backing the planned tie-up.

The councils will from March 2015 share Matt Prosser as chief executive, who already has the top job at Weymouth & Portland and West Dorset via a partnership that has been running since 2011.

Legal and governance, management, service development, and finance will be among the first services to be shared.

Office accommodation and IT systems will be shared and integrated to release savings across the three councils.

Unlike west London’s ‘Triborough’ arrangement, the Dorset model involves complete integration across the trio although they will remain separate political entities. The arrangements will serve more than 235,000 people.

The councils hope to save some £6m through efficiencies by 2020 through the new arrangements.

The Government’s Transformation Challenge Award Fund is providing £600,000 from its 2014/15. The councils hope to secure a further £1.5m from the 2015/16 pot.

North Dorset’s leader Deborah Croney said: “This is a landmark decision that will protect and improve services for the future providing an unlimited number of opportunities that will be of great benefit to residents.”

Cllr Mike Byatt, Chairman of the Management Committee at Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, said: “The tri-council partnership is great news for residents across the three areas.

“It is innovative and ambitious, and will ensure we are in the best possible position to protect front-line services in the face of reductions to local government funding.”

“Together the three councils will have a stronger voice and have more influence locally and nationally and potentially be able to attract more investment through the local enterprise partnership and secure more private investment as part of economic growth plans.”

Cllr Robert Gould, Leader of West Dorset District Council, said: “I’m delighted all three councils have agreed to the partnership.

“The three councils have a strong record of partnership and transformation in the face of continuing financial pressures.

“The challenging agenda of change in local government requires new ways of working to secure best possible finances and new partnerships to deliver local services.”

Mark Smulian