Jobs set to go in East Dorset/Christchurch council merger (From Bournemouth Echo)

Jobs set to go in East Dorset/Christchurch council merger

8:00am Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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PLANS to merge district councils in East Dorset and Christchurch will go ahead, leaving staff facing job cuts in a bid to protect front line services.

Leaders of both councils have vowed to accelerate plans for a single management team and shared services after councillors in North Dorset voted last Friday against joining the so-called “eastern cluster”.

Cllr Spencer Flower, the leader of East Dorset District Council, said the merger programme would start “from now on”.

“We’re hoping to put a lot of things substantially in place by spring of next year. There is a pretty austere financial outlook in this country and councils will not be immune from that.

“If we work together, we can be more cost effective and protect our front line services, which is what Alan Griffiths and I want to do,” said Cllr Flower.

The two councils have already merged their revenue and benefits department with North Dorset District Council and will turn their attention to other departments. “There are all sorts of opportunities. Environmental health is one we’re looking at. The other is the housing service - both authorities had some criticism last year from the Audit Commission and we’re both trying to improve our service,” said Cllr Flower.

Each council will retain its own set of councillors, but the shared services will be delivered by merged departments operating under a single management team.

“At the moment, there will be two heads of service. We will weigh up the business case and come up with up with a structure that fits the business plan.

“If it means that we have more managers than posts, then there will be a selection process, and that’s where the savings will come from,” said Cllr Flower.