News

Proposals to share services between three councils in East Kent, which are set to bring significant savings for each council, will be going forward for further discussion.

The plans, which would see a number of services being merged between Dover District, Canterbury and Thanet councils, were given the seal of approval on Wednesday (20 January) by lead councillors from the three authorities at the East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee.

Each individual council will now have to decide whether to sign up for the scheme.

Services being considered for the first phase of the project include, revenues and benefits, IT, building control and customer services, including face to face and telephone.

Before any service goes into the project, a business plan will need to show at least 10% savings in the first two years.

It will also have to show what level of service the new arrangement will deliver. The decision on which services progress forward will be made by each council. The project could generate up to £3.5 million of savings over the next four years for the councils involved.

The decision for the three councils to move forward came despite the news that Shepway District Council is taking a step back from these plans.

Shepway remains part of the plans to share human resources, waste and recycling collections and landlord services with Canterbury, Dover and Thanet and, in due course, may wish to consider joining for other services in the future.

Cllr Paul Watkins said: “We fully respect Shepway’s views on this project and the fact that the savings may not be as great to them, as they will be to us. Each council has to do what it feels is right for its residents. We believe this is the right way forward for Dover District and remain fully committed to this project.”