THE government has awarded 2.9 million towards a scheme which will see the district council work with three other councils in the South West in an effort improve council services.

The cash is from the government’s Transformation Challenge Fund, which supports the costs of developing more efficient ways to deliver local services, and will be shared collectively between the district council, Forest of Dean and West Oxfordshire District Councils and Cheltenham Borough Council.

The councils are all part of the 2020 Vision programme, which is an ambitious model for how the four councils can work together more effectively, whilst each retaining their own decision-making powers, political independence and identity.

This award from the government follows the allocation of £900,000 to the partnership through the same fund.

Through joined-up working the councils want to create new shared staffing and management arrangements, and deliver high quality services which generate considerable savings for the 400,000 residents served by the four local authorities.

The latest share of money will help to fund further development of joint working.

This includes exploring the setting up an Information and Communications Technology infrastructure to support technology across each of the councils.

And expanding depot services for waste provider Ubico Ltd to include Forest of Dean and West Oxfordshire District Councils, alongside those already in place for Cotswold District Council and Cheltenham Borough Council.

Before the money can be allocated approval is needed at the four councils’ cabinet meetings, which will be taking place next month.

CDC leader Cllr Lynden Stowe said: “2020 Vision is a radical change programme which will protect the frontline services of each council, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy while retaining our independence. The government is taking a keen interest in our progress and the award of another £2.9 million to support the programme shows how impressed they are with the work we have done so far.

“Additional funding will help us build on the firm foundations already established and this announcement could not have come at a better time as Cabinet will be considering the next stages of the 2020 Vision programme at our December meeting.”