Charnwood Borough Council

A NEW partnership between two local authorities in Leicestershire is set to improve the delivery of services for residents of both boroughs.

Charnwood Borough Council and Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council have come together to provide a joined up approach to Benefits and Revenues services.

The move, the first of its kind in the county, has already delivered savings in I.T, printing and training costs to both Councils. Further efficiencies are set to be achieved as the partnership develops.

Charnwood and Hinckley & Bosworth were successful in bidding for a Government grant worth £55,340 from the Department for Work and Pensions, which will be used for staff development and other initiatives.

This joint Benefits and Revenue Service Partnership was set up as a result of the Audit Commission Report, The Efficiency Challenge, issued in November 2005, which encouraged Councils to actively consider closer working across benefits and revenues services.

Cllr Jill Vincent, Charnwood’s Cabinet member for Partnerships and Customer Services, said: “This partnership is the first of its kind in the County and clearly demonstrates a joint commitment to deliver better services.

“We’re sharing expertise and learning from each other and it will lead to a better way of working for both councils.”

Cllr Reg Ward, Hinckley and Bosworth’s Finance and ICT portfolio holder, added: “This presents an opportunity for collaboration and joint working to achieve economies of scale for procurement and for sharing resources and skills to demonstrate best practice.

“This partnership made sense. It is very much a two-way thing and I can only see it going from strength to strength.”