Co-operate or Face Savage Cuts - Tough Choices for Hard Times

The South Somerset District Council have voted in favour of the proposal to share a chief executive with East Devon District Council as a way of making substantial savings as we face difficult times.

The work of the District Council is divided between statutory and discretionary responsibilities. The statutory responsibilities are funded by central government, but administered by each council. If two district councils choose to share the work of administering these between them, they can do the work with less staff and thus save both councils money. If in addition the chief executive and some other senior staff become joint appointments and divide their time between managing two councils, this again saves money. By doing this SSDC should be able to keep many of its discretionary social responsibilities going, specifically such as funding sports centres, centres like the Balsam Centre and swimming pools, when many councils are already closing or axing such services

A joint integration committee consisting of five councillors from each authority, representing the political makeup of each council will be appointed and it will be responsible for an action plan of how the councils will work together.

It is estimated that the move would initially save South Somerset £96,141 a year. This should then lead to the loss of up to 38 managerial posts across both councils which could provide a saving of as much as £3.2 million a year. This is a process which is being explored and implemented by several other district councils across the country, though some fear a loss of autonomy.

Councillor Tim Carroll, Leader of SSDC, described the move as a marriage of convenience, but councillor Tony Fife said it was more of a shotgun marriage.

He said: "It isn't us holding the gun, it is the people in Westminster."

Cllr Pat Martin was concerned that East Devon may end up gaining more than South Somerset.

She said: "I still haven't made up my mind on this one.

"We have already had a lot of restructuring and a lot of upheaval. To have another change worries me about staff morale."

Councillor Mike Lewis pointed out the council had undergone a change of management style in the past six years.

He said: "I'm extremely nervous about this. I am not sure East Devon District Council has had a change in this aspect. It is a concern that one authority is willing to change significantly but the other may not have.

"When the contract is signed will the reality be very different to the expectation of that partnership?"

Councillors were told the council faces cuts in funding in future years which could lead to "close to the heart" projects being threatened.

The details of those projects are to remain confidential as 'they could be quite upsetting for staff.'

But Donna Parham, the district council's director of finance confirmed the council will have to make savings of £2m in 2011-12. That figure could double if Government grants are cut by 20 per cent.

Councillor Sylvia Seal said: "We have got to save money and we are not going to do it on our own.

"I am a hundred per cent behind this. I don't have an alternative solution to the financial problem which will face every other authority in the next few years."

Councillor Robin Munday said: "A good proportion of savings are in staff savings and salaries. We are now at the point of cutting discretionary services."

John Baxter

With acknowledgement to the Western Gazette for the direct quotations.

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