STAFF from the borough council may soon be moving to Gravesend as the Tonbridge local authority continues to explore new ways to cut back on its spending in the face of central government cuts.
Proposals have been put forward to merge revenue and benefits services between the two areas. This includes the managing of council tax, council tax support, housing benefit and business rates services.
The changes are expected to save between £100,000 and £150,000. The buildings of both councils are being considered to host the combined service, with the resultant vacated offices available to be commercially let.
A report presented to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet last night [Tuesday March 21] said that the delivery of revenue and benefit services is ‘by and large a standard service nationally, with relatively small nuances operating within individual authorities’.
It follows a trend toward shared services in recent years as local authorities have had their budgets substantially depleted.
The Mid-Kent Partnership administers a number of services for Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells borough councils.
