Wokingham Lib-Dems say working with other Councils will improve services and save money (Wokingham Liberal Democrats)

Wokingham Liberal Democrats <info@wokinghamlibdems.org.uk>

Wokingham Lib-Dems say working with other Councils will improve services and save money

September 26, 2008 12:00 PM

At last night's Wokingham Borough Council meeting at Shute End, Wokingham Liberal Democrats laid out plans to improve services and save money.

Councillor Prue Bray (Leader of the Lib Dem Councillor Group and councillor for Winnersh ward) said, "Everyone has had enough of soaring Council Tax increases, and the Council needs to find ways of managing its money better.

"The Council has made a start. The joint waste contract with Bracknell Forest and Reading Councils will save the Council millions of pounds over the next 20 years. But so much more could be done.

"I suggested three specific areas where working with other authorities could deliver better services whilst reducing pressure on the Council Tax:

§ The first idea is to join forces with the other Berkshire authorities to provide special educational needs. Wokingham Council is simply not big enough to provide all the services required economically by ourselves, and buying in the services is hugely expensive. But if we joined together, perhaps between us we could provide the schools and expertise we all require. This means we would keep control of the costs and quality.

§ The second idea is to look at sharing maintenance contracts for our council houses, schools, parks and green spaces, and roads with our neighbouring authorities. The Council has made a start, but could do much more to achieve economies of scale.

§ My third idea is to align our IT systems with those of other nearby councils so that we can have a joint IT contractor and joint IT procurement. This could deliver significant savings.

"We need to look beyond our boundaries and think imaginatively about how it can be done."

Following a debate where Conservative councillors welcomed the Liberal Democrat ideas, there was unanimous support for the motion.