Transparency call over council merger (From Bucks Free Press)

Transparency call over council merger

11:33am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Wycombe district By Rebecca Cain

Seb Berry

AN INDEPENDENT has called for two district councils to be more transparent about the savings and costs involved in a senior management merger.

Last week Chiltern and South Bucks District Council announced the first step had been taken to bring together their management teams under a single chief executive, saying they would build up savings of at least £500,000 by the end of the first two years of the project.

But Chiltern District cllr Seb Berry said these figures are misleading.

He said: ""I fully support the reorganisation but it is actually misleading to suggest that the savings of £500,000 will be in two years, which implies that those savings are delivered over the next two years."

He said he does not think any one disputes the figures, which he said shows there will be a loss in the first two years and full savings will not be realised until year three.

By the end of this financial year, April 5, the expected savings are £17,270.

Then in the next tax year- 2012/13- savings of £168,200 are expected through changes to structure of the organisation and staff appointments.

In the 2013/14 tax year the project is actually expected to cost the councils £253,630 to implement staff changes, for example exit packages.

And then for 2014/15 savings of £514,420 are predicted which will then be expected every year.

Council spokesman, Rachel Prance, said by the end of the financial year 2013/14 the savings will have been captured (the first two years of the project) and so when the new financial year 2014/15 starts the savings of £514,000 will immediately be in place.

Although services will be brought together, the two councils will retain their independence as separate sovereign bodies.