Councils could merge services to save money

Councils in the Black Country could merge their departments to save money, it can be revealed today.

The cabinets of the four councils, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell, are to meet for the first time ever to discuss the idea.

They are likely to follow the example of Cannock and Stafford councils, who have a formal agreement to share some of their services.

Radical cost saving ideas up for discussion by some 40 senior councillors in the Black Country include merging services including human resources, IT, legal services, environmental health, trading standards and waste management.

Council leaders today said they had to consider radical ideas in the wake of 28 per cent cuts to every council's budget.

Wolverhampton is trying to save £70 million over five years as is Dudley. Walsall and Sandwell Councils have to save £65m.

The move could affect tens of thousands of workers. Wolverhampton Council employs 12,465 people, Walsall has 9,925 staff members, Dudley 11,000 and Sandwell 14,000.

Dudley's leader Councillor Anne Millward said: "The corporate management teams of the four authorities met in September and have agreed to further work to explore areas for greater collaboration.

"However, it must be stressed that no decisions have been taken over any particular departments where we may look to pilot sharing resources or offering shared services."