Bucks and Harrow seal people deal

Buckinghamshire County Council and Harrow Council today agreed to extend their cooperation with a new HR deal that will save both authorities hundreds of thousands of pounds every year.

The new HR shared service, which Buckinghamshire will manage, covers the full range of HR functions, including employee relations and payroll. A shared management team is in place from 1 August and Harrow staff will TUPE over to Buckinghamshire County Council before April next year.

John Chilver, Buckinghamshire’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: ‘We’re continuing our approach of working with like-minded councils to realise significant cash savings and explore new opportunities. These include getting the best value from contracts and marketing our expertise to others. This new service will also increase knowledge-sharing between our organisations and improve staff career opportunities.”

Cllr Sachin Shah, Leader of Harrow Council, said: “Another great deal for Harrow means less pressure on the frontline services that people really care about. We’re not finished yet – we’re driving forward with new commercial ideas all the time.

“I’m proud of Harrow’s reputation for innovation. We forged one of the first shared service deals with Brent, back in the 1960s. That’s been delivering value ever since, and I’m sure our ongoing relationship with Buckinghamshire will also be a long and successful one.”

The two councils first started sharing back office functions in April 2015, and two months ago Bucks struck a legal services deal with Harrow-based HB Public Law – Britain’s biggest local authority legal practice.