2008 the portent and the action taken.

In 2008/9 it became alarmingly clear that central government were looking seriously at how they funded local authorities. The Local Government Association forecast over the following five years set alarm bells ringing in all councils. The then administration at CBC took serious heed of these forecasts recognising that if we did nothing our future could be taken out of our hands. So following deep debate the controlling group embarked on a process with other Councils with the simple objective of finding a way to deliver services but at considerably less cost. Coincident with the CBC decision were like minded Districts following the same strategy and meaningful discussions took place with North and East Dorset. Subsequently North dropped out leaving CBC and EDDC to explore in detail how a partnership would work and what degree of savings could be achieved. At that stage projected cuts from government were forecast at about 10%, we had no idea at that stage of projections reaching 48% by 2015. A brave decision was taken and this by officers and councillors in 2010 and the legal structure was determined of two Councils with one management. A change fund was isolated with a business plan to ensure swift payback and targets set of projected savings to 2015. The management structure was established resulting in serious savings. There were of course some non negotiable like the Mayoralty, each councils sovereignty, but in essence the partnership was formed. So in 2010 we embarked on the most enterprising journey seen in the Borough since the attempt to absorb Christchurch into Wessex City. I intend to precis the continuing process to date in further blogs.