Councillors reject a cost-cutting link (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Councillors reject a cost-cutting link

12:28pm Thursday 1st May 2008 in News

TEWKESBURY borough councillors are disappointed that Cotswold district councillors have called off a possible cost- cutting link.

The two councils commissioned a report from independent consultants Tribal, which recommended setting up a joint management structure, which could have saved up to £1 million a year.

They gave themselves six months to consider the recommendations in the report, but just a few weeks into the project the Cotswold council already says it wants out.

Leader Lynden Stowe said: "While we share similar financial challenges, it has become increasingly clear that the two councils are focusing on different outcomes in the long term.Therefore, we do not think it is worthwhile to spend a further six months examining the report's recommendations when the balance of probability is that it is not in best interests of either authority to continue down this route."

Tewkesbury has shared the services of Cotswold District Council's chief executive Bob Austin since May 2007.