Shropshire Council announces tri-council partnership

Shropshire Council, Staffordshire County Council and Worcestershire County Council officially launched the project at the LGA Conference in Birmingham yesterday.

The three councils will work together on five key areas: economic growth and connectivity (including broadband and local transport); fostering, adoption and residential care; education services to schools; IT; and contract management and procurement.

Staff across the three authorities will share best practice, innovate and explore ways of working together, with extensive potential for improvement, savings and growth in their local areas. The work will complement and strengthen existing transformation programmes taking place at each local authority.

Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, welcomed the partnership:

“Each of the three councils is already a leader in a number of fields –Staffordshire in health sector collaboration, Worcestershire in property management and Shropshire in children’s services and community development. This partnership will enable us all to deliver high-quality services and value for money to our residents, despite severe constraints on our funding.

“We have to think differently and I truly believe that by working closely with our partners in Worcestershire and Staffordshire, we can all deliver better outcomes for local people.”