COUNCILS BID TO UP STANDARDS

Six local authorities, including Wealden District Council, have been awarded 291,000 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Local Government Association (LGA) to look at the possibility of delivering at least one major service jointly, as well as provide staff and councillors with training at a lower cost.

The move has been welcomed by the Local Government Minister Phil Woolas: "Today's announcement underlines the determination of local councils to drive up services in the area. This cash boost will help them take further strides in the right direction."

Working as the East Sussex Joint Improvement Project, the councils have highlighted the need to improve the collection of council tax and business rates, and administration of benefits. These are areas where councils are experiencing staff recruitment and retention problems.

The project will seek new ways of raising standards, whilst the shared approach should lead to cost reductions for the councils involved.

The initiative is part of a five'“year action plan drawn up by the authorities in response to Audit Commission assessments. It will enable the councils to respond to the Gershon Review, which calls on all local authorities to make efficieny gains of 2.5 per cent over the next three years.

The councils involved are: Eastbourne Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council, Hastings Borough Council, Rother District Council and Wealden District Council.