South Holland District Council has announced their intention to enter into a new strategic partnership arrangement with Boston and East Lindsey councils, subject to formal agreement by councillors.
This comes after ongoing discussions over potential options for partnership arrangements with other councils in Lincolnshire following South Holland's separation with Norfolk’s Breckland Council in May.
Any potential arrangement is subject to a formal agreement from Boston and East Lindsey councillors at full council meetings later this month.
Members from South Holland will then get the opportunity to vote at a full council meeting on July 1 to put in place an interim arrangement to work up the final business case.
Currently, Boston and East Lindsey councils work together through a Strategic Alliance.
Should all three councils formally approve any potential new partnership arrangement, it could create the largest council partnership in the country with a workforce of 1,000 staff.
Commenting, South Holland District Council Leader, Councillor Gary Porter said:
"If all goes to plan, this potential partnership has the capacity to deliver greater value for money for residents through the pooling of workforce, together with an improved service delivery for the benefit of our local residents and businesses.
"I also believe this partnership will give us a stronger regional voice when it comes to discussions with national government over funding, which again is great news for the people of South Holland and the wider south-east Lincolnshire region."
Leaders of Boston and East Lindsey councils, Councillor Paul Skinner and Councillor Craig Leyland added:
"We're pleased that our councils will soon consider the approach by South Holland District Council to join the Strategic Alliance.
“We've enjoyed some fantastic success during our first year working together as a formal alliance and with a third partner wishing to come on board, we've no doubt it would be to the benefit of all involved, including residents and businesses across our area.
“As well as increasing the ability of all councils to deliver for their communities, becoming a three council partnership would increase our ability and profile to access opportunities that might otherwise be missed."
