Plans for a shared planning service between Cherwell and South Northamptonshire District Councils have taken one step closer.

The proposal to share staff, generate new revenue and harmonise IT systems has now been approved by Cherwell’s executive.

The proposal, which will now be considered by South Northamptonshire next week, hopes to save £150,000 through efficiency savings and new income opportunities.

Cllr Colin Clarke, Cherwell's lead member for planning, said: ‘The goal of this business plan is for the development management teams to work as a single shared service, as other council teams have done. This will help the councils to protect services well into the future by proactively planning to cope with reductions in Government funding.

‘The proposals have been carefully thought through to offer a measured, phased transformation which will make substantial savings without reductions to frontline services.’

The two councils have been working together for a number of years, with the majority of their teams working jointly already.