26th January 2012

WEST DORSET: Merger savings to reach �2 million

Savings being achieved by merging services at West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland councils should help protect frontline services.

The two authorities believe that £1.15million of on going savings have so far been achieved and could reach £2million a year.

A report shows that almost £1million has been saved in staff and management costs since the scheme was approved in June 2010. Other savings have come from sharing IT services, sharing audit costs and through reducing staff benefits.

“This is an innovative and ambitious project and I am pleased with the savings that have been made so far,” said Chief Executive for both authorities, David Clarke.

By the end of the process around 70 staff posts will have been shed, mostly through natural turnover and voluntary redundancies, although it is now thought that up to 20 jobs may have to go through a compulsory scheme.

At Dorset County Council the authority says it is on the way to achieving its £28million savings target in the current financial year – but a further £15.2million will have to be achieved in 2012-13.

WEST DORSET: Merger savings to reach �2 million

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