Council bosses across Somerset’s three main authorities have agreed to work more closely to improve services and make savings.
Leaders and Chief Executives at Somerset County Council, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset Councils agreed to look at the opportunities for pooling resources and skills in key areas building on previous successes and save taxpayers money.
“We have shown with our joined up campaign to bring superfast broadband to our region that when we work together we are highly effective and share ambitions,” said Somerset County Council Conservative Leader, John Osman.
“We are now looking at a variety of projects in the short, medium and long term where we can work closely and help each other. We all face very challenging budget cuts due to a reduction of Government funding plus rising demand for services such as looking after vulnerable adults and children.”
Somerset County Council’s Chief Executive Sheila Wheeler said a recent meeting at County Hall in Taunton had been highly productive.
She said: “Everyone is in agreement that closer working makes sense. We can build on the highly successful projects we have all joined up for in the past and I’m sure there are important areas where a joined-up approach will make a significant difference.
“If we can streamline what we do, and be more efficient, then working together is a sensible next step.”