A single staffing structure between Richmond and Wandsworth councils would "open up new opportunities" for both boroughs, claims a new report.
Lord True: Happy with the merger
The two councils announced last month plans to share a chief executive from 2017 after the retirement of Richmond’s chief executive Gillian Norton in summer 2016.
The merger of staff and senior management is expected to deliver savings of up to £10m-a-year for taxpayers in Wandsworth and a similar amount in Richmond.
Jan 23 2015: Wandsworth and Richmond councils to merge, leaving Kingston in the lurch
How will the Wandsworth-Richmond merger work?
Feb 12 2015: Richmond Council denies 400 jobs to be lost in Wandsworth merger
In a document published on the Wandsworth Council website, both leaders have prepared a vision for the merger, including retained sovereignty, a single workforce, shared commissioning and procurement and a commitment to service quality.
Both councils would be responsible for setting their own budget, determining priorities and developing policy and local programmes..
Leader of Wandsworth Council Councillor Ravi Govindia, said the council had "taken enormous strides" since 2010 to reduce costs and protect frontline services, but a further £66m needed to be saved by 2017-18.
Coun Govindia said: "In Richmond we have identified a partner that shares our commitment to high quality services and high levels of resident satisfaction.
"Sharing staff with Richmond opens up many new opportunities for Wandsworth. It provides a valuable opportunity to spend taxpayers’ money more efficiently by reducing unnecessary duplication and overheads across the two organisations."
The councils would have one chief executive, Paul Martin, and shared directors for resources, environment and community services, housing and regeneration and education and social services.
There would also be a director of Richmond’s children’s services, which it shares with Kingston.
Wandsworth said it would consult residents to “gauge their opinions on the intention to share staff” and the results will be reported back in June.
A report on the proposed staffing merger will be presented at Wandsworth’s finance and corporate resources committee meeting on February 19 and a similar paper will be presented to Richmond’s cabinet and scrutiny committee on March 12 and 16 respectively.
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