Ten out of ten for Alliance councils

It's top marks for two local councils who have scored a perfect ten for their residents after embarking on an innovative partnership to improve local public services.

In June 2008 Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and High Peak Borough Council joined forces in a Strategic Alliance to establish joint working arrangements and create a shared approach to delivering key services.

The leaders of the Councils are now marking the anniversary of their successful partnership which has resulted in savings of £12.2 m over the last decade as a result of the shared approach to staffing structures and procurement opportunities.

The benefits of the Alliance have enabled both Councils to:

Freeze Council Tax for several years - in the Moorlands there were no increases for 7 years with a small average increase of 8 pence this is year

Transform how services are delivered to ensure that value for money is achieved whilst protecting the services people rely on - this has saved taxpayers in the Moorlands £6.6m since 2008

Modernise customer interactions by providing more and more services online and available 24 hours a day

Establish a new waste and operational services company - Alliance Environmental Services - which will save £1.2m

Staffordshire Moorlands Leader, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, said: "As a direct result of taking this pioneering step ten years ago, we've been able to continue to improve effective public services in contrast to how these valued and important frontline services are funded and delivered across large parts of the country.

"The public purse will always, and rightly, be under scrutiny and arrangements like ours have a proven track record of resulting in savings so I look to forward to the next ten years of continued innovation."

Councillor Tony Ashton, Leader of High Peak Borough Council, said: "Public services are constantly evolving and it makes sense to work in partnership to maximise value for money and to ensure we remain in the best position to provide modern, efficient and responsive services.

"The Alliance has enabled both Councils to protect essential services and to share best practice from both areas whilst maintaining the independence and distinctive characteristics of each of our areas which are so important to our residents."