District councils and Norfolk County Council work closely together, with many services run by each being interdependent. Formal collaboration between district councils is also becoming common, with the main benefit to attract more central government funding.

I was proud to chair the cross-party Broadland Lead Member Group, which together with our opposite numbers in South Norfolk has spent the past 10 months overseeing the production of a feasibility study looking at the potential benefits of a collaboration agreement between the two councils.

On 12 July a decision was taken by Broadland District Council and South Norfolk District Council to embrace a strategic collaboration and for one joint officer team to be established to support two autonomous councils.

This is intended to be the starting point to accelerate growth and prosperity in a new combined area, with the potential to deliver savings of around £8.6 million over the first five years.

The combined focus is on driving economic growth, house building and improving the services delivered to provide enhanced benefits to 260,000 residents and 10,000 businesses.

The shared services partnership is intended to make us more efficient and strengthen our hand when working with partners and attracting funding from central government. It will also increase our ability to take advantage of commercial opportunities to deliver better value for residents.

Cllr Greg Peck, Norfolk County Council
Tel: 07972 230282
Email: greg.peck.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk