Lib Dems call for more shared services in face of cuts (Rochdale Liberal Democrats)

Rochdale Liberal Democrats <info@rochdalelibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems call for more shared services in face of cuts

December 23, 2010 3:42 PM

Councillor Dale Mulgrew Rochdale Liberal Democrats are calling on the Council to urgently consider increasing shared services with other Greater Manchester authorities in a bid to save millions of pounds.

The call comes after plans were recently released for the UK's first a 'super council' in London. Three London boroughs - Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham - hope to save almost£100m by sharing essential services, ranging from education to rubbish collection and ict.

Rochdale and Oldham Council have already begun to share certain services, such as contact centres, with Oldham's call centre functions transferring over to Rochdale's call centre last September. However the Lib Dems are calling for a further increase, starting with senior management in a bid to save money.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew said: "The joint procurement and sharing of Council services can be a really effective way for our Council to cut costs, whilst continuing to deliver excellent front-line services. Over the last few months we have seen Councils across the country announcing similar plans with the cost savings well into the millions.

He added: "With the Government set to cut funding over the next four years by 28 per cent it seems natural that we should look as soon as possible into following the lead of Councils such as Portsmouth and Southampton and sharing more services. By starting with the cost of senior management we can protect frontline services by sharing them. Within this idea there is a clear scope for massive savings. "

"The previous leadership of the Council met with the leadership of Oldham Council at the end of November. At this meeting there was a firm request for greater urgency around the shared services agenda, based on a common understanding and a serious political will for this to be progressed quicker. I do hope the incoming Labour administration finds that this is an initiative that they can explore further."

"I represented the Lib Dem group at this meeting and was aware that both Council's were asked to set a target for savings accrued from this joint work for the future. I cannot see why for the 2012/13 budget that the bulk of savings cannot be found through this radical approach we now await to see which services will be considered next for joint working."