BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council looks set to share its licensing services with Hart District Council.

Earlier this year, Hart approached Basingstoke and Deane to see if the borough would consider the benefit of a shared licensing service between the two local authorities.

The two councils currently share a legal services team.

In early discussions, officers identified benefits to merging licensing staff at the two local authorities, including a consistent approach to licences, a single point of contact for all trades online, consistency of enforcement and cost savings.

And the two councils look set to agree the merger for a period of three years, which will see two members of staff transfer from Hart District Council to the borough council.

After the three-year period, work will be carried out to look at the success of the partnership and a decision will be made as to whether the scheme is renewed.

Under the plans, the two members of staff from Hart will be managed by the borough council’s licensing manager, and one member of the licensing team will be based at the Hart offices to provide a local presence and to carry out inspections.

The annual cost of the two employees, who will be transferred to the borough council, is £67,000, which will be funded by Hart. In addition, Hart will make an ongoing contribution of £34,700 per year for the borough council’s management and operating costs.

The borough council will also pay 20 per cent – £7,734 – towards the cost of a project manager who will oversee a one-year transition period.