Updated
Merger will save up to £70,000
Boston’s separate housing and homeless systems are described as “no longer up to date”, “paper driven” and with “limited reporting capabilities” in a report before cabinet members on Wednesday.
Quotes to the borough to fully replace the system have ranged from £70,000 to £90,000. However, East Lindsey District Council has agreed to let Boston join its systems which were upgraded in 2019 – bringing the costs down to a one-off £6,930 installation cost and a further £13,995 for the two years remaining on ELDC’s contract.
The report said the new East Lincolnshire Housing Allocation Scheme “is a positive development opportunity for the strategic alliance”.
Boston Borough Council is to become the third authority in a partnership for back office shared services.
Earlier this week its councillors approved the proposal for it become a shareholder in Public Sector Partnership Services (PSPS) with East Lindsey and South Holland District Councils.
The partnership provides IT, HR, finance, customer contact and revenues and benefits services.
Boston predicted that the move will provide savings of £1.8 million over the next 10 years – highlighting IT systems as one of the areas – and support its transformation programme.
Subject to final due diligence, all of the council’s staff working in the services will transfer to the partnership on 1 April.
Boston Council becomes third shareholder in local authority company
Boston Borough Council has agreed to become a shareholder in a local authority trading company to save £1.8m over the next ten years.
The council is joining East Lindsey and South Holland District Councils to enter into a new partnership with Public Sector Partnership Services Ltd. The two districts - who renewed their joint contract last year - saved £19m over the initial ten-year contract.
The company delivers IT, HR, finance, customer contact and revenues and benefits for the councils.
Cllr Jonathan Noble, the council’s portfolio holder for financial & commercial, said: I’m pleased that my fellow councillors have supported this proposal and I’m very much looking forward to working with Public Sector Partnership Services Ltd.