Three Hampshire pubsec bodies to work closer together

Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary have pledged their commitment to investigate the potential to combine support services in a bid to save money and protect and improve frontline services.

Combining functions that each organisation currently manages separately at a cost of around £90m could not only present opportunities to further reduce costs, but also improve services, increase the capacity and resilience of each organisation and support the delivery of joint priorities that would benefit all Hampshire residents, they believe.

The three organisations have therefore begun programmes which will transform and develop new and innovative ways of working, identifying opportunities for efficiencies and service improvements through greater joint working and sharing of resources.

They will also now explore ways to work together more closely to share support services, which will include areas such as information technology, human resources, finance, procurement, legal and property management.

A detailed business case will be developed to this effect for each of their authorities to review and make a final decision on.

The three organisations have a strong track record of successful shared services arrangements, like that between Hampshire County Council's Scientific Services and Hampshire Constabulary's Forensic Services with the creation of the UK's first joint forensic service in Hampshire. Working on a single site, the service is benefitting from shared resources and professional expertise with significant efficiencies, to benefit council taxpayers.

Building on this success, opportunities for greater sharing of buildings, equipment and other physical assets through co-location will also be explored as part of the new tri-organisation commitment.

Formal approval for the development of a business case for shared working has now been approved by Hampshire Fire Authority, Hampshire Police Authority and Hampshire County Council Cabinet.

For Jos Creese, Hant's ICT head, the move represents, "An exciting opportunity".