Council merger talks back on

Talks over merging some administration between Stafford and Cannock Chase councils are back on again.

A fortnight ago Cannock Chase District Council pulled out of negotiations over saving millions of pounds in back office costs.

But Stafford Borough Council leader Councillor Judith Dalgarno told councillors that informal discussions on cuttingcosts were to resume.

"In the past few days Cannock Chase District Council have settled their internal difficulties and have said they would like to continue," she said.

She also told the full council last night that Stafford was approached informally by another council who might be interested in joint working on cutting back office costs.

The leader of the opposition Labour group, Councillor Jack Kemp, said that there was a "chaotic situation" after the process of appointing a new chief executive was suspended to let the talks to take place with Cannock Chase.

He wanted to know who had been involved in the discussions, who was being talked to at the district council and why they had rejected the approaches.

Councillor Kemp accused the controlling Tory group of creating a "fiasco" over the appointment process and said he feared some good candidates might have been lost because of the delay.

Councillor Dalgarno denied the situation had become chaotic and said that the appointment process was still on hold while the financial position was reviewed and the potential of reducing costs by collaborating with other councils was considered.

She said there had only ever been "informal discussions" with Cannock Chase, who had approached Stafford, and it had been just speculation that there might be a shared chief executive.

Councillor Dalgarno said: "Overall by 2010 the Government seriously expects us to run the present level of services at a cost of £1.5 million less than today." She was disappointed that, initially, Cannock did not wish to continue discussions.