Discussions are underway at two Worcestershire district councils over plans to save £100,000 each year through a joint chief executive role.
Leaders from Wychavon DC and Malvern Hills DC have begun to explore the merits of the joint managing position, which could also boost existing shared service arrangements.
The town halls affirmed the move could make a ‘significant contribution’ to future cost cutting.
Cllr Paul Middlebrough, the leader of Wychavon, and Cllr David Hughes, who leads Malvern Hills, issued guarantees that each council would ‘keep its independent identity’ if the joint chief role was established.
‘We have a long history of working together and sharing a significant number of services already, so these discussions feel like a logical step in the right direction,’ Middlebrough said.
Hughes added: ‘We have been talking to colleagues in other councils where there are similar arrangements. This demonstrated to us that it is worth consideration by our respective councils and we are preparing proposals for discussion and debate. Also we have been encouraged by comments from the local government minister, Brandon Lewis.’
The latest Shared Services Map from the Local Government Association shows 337 councils are engaged in 383 shared service arrangements.
