I like the analogy in the article ‘Will shared management go the way of crushed velvet trousers’ (The MJ, 30 September 2010), comparing shared chief executives with crushed velvet trousers… aren’t they coming back in fashion this autumn?
In Chorley, we are actively exploring this model with colleagues across Lancashire. We see it as the logical next step in our approach to Team Lancashire.
Discussions between the various parties are really interesting. I can see that blatant self-interest occasionally takes over from the common sense of a business case which saves millions of pounds year-on-year to the public purse.
As we hear in the next few days the harsh reality of the future for district councils, will the nature of the discussions change?
I don’t feel that we chief executives can be the only staff immune from the impact of massive cuts to the public sector, and we have to think long and hard about our own roles, combined with careful examination of everybody else’s role, and the future shape of public sector bodies in localities.
Perfect shared service partners are those which have a degree of trust between them, mutual respect, understanding of the drivers of each partner and are, therefore, able to make a bit of a leap of faith into the unknown together.
Let’s be honest. However much in-depth business planning, modelling, re-engineering and the like, that we do we don’t really know if its going to work on the ground until we start it.
I remember my very early days in local government at Leeds City Council and thinking to myself, ‘Sometimes, it’s better to make a decision which is a bit wrong then put it right than to spend too long prevaricating and miss an enormous opportunity’.
I’ve tried to follow this approach all my working life, and while I admit I’ve made a few mistakes, I’ve also seized a lot of opportunities that I’m proud of.
So, we will continue to pursue more innovative ways to reduce the cost of senior management through sharing managers and developing shared services with councils and other public sector organisations.
Donna Hall is chief executive at Chorley BC
