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East Hampshire council's top job could be split
The top job at a council is to be split with a neighbouring authority.
East Hampshire District Council will see the post of chief executive shared with a nearby council. It echoes similar council re-organisations implemented in Sussex, Staffordshire, Suffolk and Devon.
The move will save the district council tens of thousands of pounds each year, and councillors predict it is the first step towards amalgamating services with other local authorities.
Speaking at a district council meeting last Wednesday, East Hampshire leader Ferris Cowper said: 'There's more to this than simply saving on salary costs. We have to get to grips with the changes facing local government.
'We've seen around the country that the consolidation of local authorities is a current trend, and several new unitary authorities have been appointed in the last few months.'
Hart District Council and Rushmoor District Council, both in north Hampshire, have been mooted as potential partners.
Cllr Cowper said the Hampshire Senate, a body which represents all the authorities around the county, had been set up to improve efficiency and sharing chief executives was one way of achieving this.
Further down the line, it was expected other council departments and services would be consolidated with other authorities.
The district council's current chief executive, Will Godfrey, leaves on July 13, and deputy chief executive Daphne Gardner will act as the interim leader until the shared appointment is made.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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