The Christchurch & East Dorset Partnership has been awarded a government grant of £160,000 to take forward a project to introduce a joint planning system.
The funding comes from the Department for Communities & Local Government in the form of a Transformation Challenge Award following a bid made by the Partnership.
The emphasis of the bid was to introduce a transformation project in the Development Management Service, which processes planning applications, to bring together the teams in Christchurch Borough and East Dorset District Councils in one seamless service.
The project will provide a dedicated project manager and take forward the re-engineering of all the business processes in the service as well as oversee the procurement of a new development management system.
Cllr Ray Nottage, Leader of Christchurch Borough Council, said: “It’s very encouraging to see that central government has recognised the innovation that we are introducing to our ways of working and welcome the support that the award gives.”
Cllr Ian Monks, Leader of East Dorset District Council, added: “This funding will ensure that we move forward in a positive way to improve the planning service which we provide to our residents and businesses.”
The award is one of three involving the Christchurch & East Dorset Partnership. The Stour Valley & Poole Partnership, which comprises Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset and Borough of Poole councils, has received £300,000 for a shared IT system while Bournemouth Borough Council has been awarded £262,000 to work with Poole and all Dorset councils on sustainable waste management.
