An innovative way of ensuring top quality performance is maintained and current jobs are retained while at the same time generating savings is to be introduced at South Derbyshire District Council.

Members of the top performing authority's Finance & Management Committee agreed a set of proposals to partner "back office" services such as IT, finance, personnel and revenues and benefits processing with the private sector when they met on Thursday. (Oct 23).

They say that this will protect levels of service for residents and jobs for existing staff but at the same time close a potential gap in future funds.

Commenting on the decision, Council Leader Heather Wheeler says: "We know the benefits of forward planning in South Derbyshire so that we do not meet an unexpected crisis in the future. While protecting the interests of our current and future workforce, we are looking to deliver quality services in different ways and this helps us achieve just that."

Councillor Wheeler was also keen to point out that, "the Council is not facing redundancies and remains totally committed to providing top quality services whilst keeping Council Tax low". This has been the consistent message coming from her since she took over as Leader of the Council in May 2007.

Chairman of the Finance & Management Committee, Councillor John Harrison added; "The aims of the partnering proposals are to ensure the continuation of top quality performance and generate savings with both the local retention of current jobs and the creation of new jobs for South Derbyshire.

"Through our prudent financial management we do not have a current budget issue, but our financial plans do outline a future gap in funds. We are therefore looking at ways to close this gap whilst protecting our services and staff. Our partnership with the private sector will deliver these aims."

The project is expected to take at least 16 months to introduce with a start date of April 1, 2010 set as a target.