Local Councils Forge Ahead With Joint Co-Operation

Bath & North East Somerset Council and North Somerset Council are to continue to work closely together to make the best use of their expertise and resources.

The two councils signed a formal co-operation agreement in June having piloted a number of new areas of joint working.

Following a successful pilot over the last year both councils are working towards full integration of their audit and assurance functions into a formal partnership which will deliver savings whilst improving quality, resilience and capacity.

In addition, joint working continues between the two authorities in building control and information governance.

The councils are also currently considering ways of working more closely together on highways and transportation services and public protection, which could include joint commissioning of services and contracts plus shared posts in some cases such as adoption services; and broadband implementation.

Both councils intend to look at other service areas when opportunities arise.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is also putting in place a new HR and payroll system, and will be sharing the iTrent system that North Somerset Council implemented in 2011.

B&NES’s system was out of date and needed updating to fit with new flexible ways of working.

iTrent will be rolled out across Bath & North East Somerset Council over the next 12 months and will allow the Council to introduce manager and employee self-service facilities, to help facilitate mobile and flexible working.

Cllr Paul Crossley, Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “This approach makes sense. Like councils across the country, our council is facing a tough economic outlook, and working together and sharing resources means we can do our best to carry on delivering valued services.

“We will benefit from the extended use of an existing system at less cost than a standalone solution as well as tapping into North Somerset Council’s considerable knowledge of managing a HR/payroll environment with self service functions.”

Leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Nigel Ashton, said: “This is another example of where collaborative working can save residents money and allow both councils to benefit from one another’s experiences.

“We have extensive knowledge and expertise in delivering a successful solution. Our staff have hands-on experience of obtaining maximum organisational benefit from the introduction of a modern HR/payroll system and successful management of change to a self-service model.”

The councils began working together almost 20 years ago in 1996, sharing resources in areas including libraries, planning and economic development, and most recently, audit and land charges.