First meeting of East Kent Committee

     


A new way of working for four east Kent councils and the county council starts on Wednesday 25 June with the first meeting of the East Kent (joint arrangements) Committee.

The committee, which runs alongside the new East Kent (joint scrutiny) Committee, is a partnership between the district councils of Shepway, Canterbury, Dover and Thanet and Kent County Council.

They have been created to formalise the joint working arrangements between the five authorities, which currently covers services such as management of housing stock, revenues, benefits, ICT, leisure trusts and coastal defence work.

In addition, the committees will work towards the introduction of a new waste collection system for the whole of east Kent by 2013.

Canterbury City Council will host and chair the East Kent (joint arrangements) Committee for the first year, while Shepway District Council will host and chair the East Kent (joint scrutiny) Committee for the first year. Membership of the committees will be made up of councillors from the five authorities.

Alistair Stewart, Chief Executive of Shepway District Council, said Shepway already worked closely with its district council neighbours, and with Kent County Council, on a variety of services.

"These new committees make the sharing of services a formal process. The arrangement will share expertise, increase efficiency and make better use of public money. It will also help raise the profile of East Kent across the county and the south east region."