Press Release

1 February 2024

A decade of environmental health success

Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council are celebrating 10 years of their shared Environmental Health Partnership.

The partnership was officially formalised in 2014 following a successful trial period. By sharing staff, assets and responsibilities, it was anticipated that the Fareham and Gosport Environmental Health Partnership would lead to savings of £50K for each council.

However, the partnership has been more successful than either council could have hoped for. Rather than the £50K savings anticipated, in its first year of operation the partnership delivered over £450K in savings between the two councils. This was achieved, in part, through a staffing restructure, which was later recognised by a Transformation Award from the Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise (iESE).

Additional savings have continued to be made, with a further £77K saved between 2014 and 2023.  The partnership has done this through more efficient and effective use of resources, delivering better value for money, sharing resources and expertise and taking the best that each service has to offer. This has resulted in a more customer focused service which is more flexible and adaptable to change to maintain or improve standards of service.

Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, Cllr Joanne Burton, said: “The Environmental Health Partnership has gone from strength to strength in the last 10 years, and I am delighted with the savings which have been made to date.  While the cost of a pint of milk has increased by 50%, the cost of providing environmental health services in Fareham and Gosport has stayed the same.  It is remarkable that this has been achieved while the service to residents has remained of the highest quality.”

Councillor Peter Chegwyn, Leader of Gosport Borough Council, said: "For a decade our shared Environment Health team has been providing important services which protect our residents, visitors and local environment, while delivering great value for our communities. The partnership has proved a real success, we look forward to another ten years and more of working together to keep people safe."

ENDS

For further information contact:

Customer Enquiries

Tel: 01329 236100
Email: customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk

Media Enquiries

The Communications Team
Tel: 01329 824310
Email: publicity@fareham.gov.uk
Fax: 01329 550576

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