Dorset County Council is joining forces with Hants County Council to share IT services in a bid to save up to £5million.

The neighbouring authorities will work together on a joint strategy to offer more shared services to other authorities such as health agencies, fire and police and to support the delivery of lower-cost public services.

The initiative forms part of wider efficiency measures by both county councils, which aim to reduce overall IT costs and support services ‘to enable transformation and efficiency.’ Over the next three years the collaboration is expected to save a total of between £2million and £5million in combined IT costs alone.

The two councils have already begun to share computer centres, business continuity, technical expertise and services.

A joint management board has also been put in place at director level to oversee business case development for a variety of other areas.

These include joint development on major IT systems, shared contracts and procurement, and the potential for joint support and service desks.

Opportunities to use IT to share other services and to widen the partnership to other organisations will also be considered.

Dorset County Council leader Angus Campbell said: “Our two local authorities deliver similar services supported by IT and we share some key systems.

“Maintaining and developing the use of technology in support of front line services is essential.

“As we face unprecedented financial pressures, what could be more sensible than pooling our IT resources and expertise for greater efficiency and the benefit of the public that we serve?”

Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber said: “This is a very exciting move for our two counties to find ways to collaborate on shared IT.

“As local government faces some of its most challenging times, it is essential that authorities look closely at developing more efficient and effective working methods, and the role of technology in helping to deliver more for less.

“As the public purse tightens, this collaboration is just one strand of a wider programme of work that will see the way Hampshire County Council operates and the services it delivers, transformed to ensure that expenditure can be reduced in a way that is sustainable and avoids indiscriminate cuts.

“By taking a long-term view, Hampshire aims to reduce the impact on frontline services and minimise the uncertainty for staff and partners.

“In planning ahead, the council aims to be in a position to reduce its expenditure for the next financial year and beyond, in a way that avoids knee-jerk reactions and protects its ability to deliver and develop quality services.”