Mendip District Council considers sharing services

A Somerset council is exploring the idea of sharing services with two other local councils in a bid to share costs.

Mendip District Council has had to make £1.4m of savings for 2013-14. If the plan goes ahead it would partner with Taunton Deane and West Somerset.

Council leader, Harvey Siggs, said: "We already deliver the legal services for West Somerset and are more than willing to share the expertise."

A study costing about £25,000 will take place before a decision in October.

"If there are savings to be made that can be translated to Mendip then we are more than too happy to help the other councils out," added Mr Siggs.

In recent years, the Conservative-run council has outsourced its work - its revenue and benefits is done by a private company employing 80 staff.