Richmond and Kingston consider children's services merger
Joe Lepper
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The London boroughs of Richmond and Kingston are the latest councils to consider merging their children's services departments.
Both councils are investigating whether a full or partial merger of children’s services is feasible and will publish their findings in May.
The move is part of a strategy being employed across five south London boroughs that is examining how the councils can work together, including mergers.
Richmond upon Thames, Merton, Croydon, Sutton and Kingston upon Thames have signed a "memorandum of understanding" to discuss ways to co-operate and jointly run services.
A spokeswoman for Richmond council said: "We are just at the investigation stage regarding children’s services and will know in May whether it is feasible."
She added that this latest memorandum leaves open the possibility of further collaboration and cooperation with the other four south London councils should the Kingston plans get the green light in May.
A report detailing the latest commitment across the five boroughs to jointly run services is being presented to Richmond council’s cabinet on February 24. Richmond and Merton already share a legal department.
Leader of Richmond council Lord True said: "In the future, far more services will be delivered either through commissioning or by sharing services with other organisations where that provides economies of scale and good value for local tax payers."
CYP Now has previously reported on the possibility of collaborations and mergers among councils in Greater Manchester and Merseyside as well as the three London boroughs of Kensington, Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham councils.