East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils have agreed to deliver a shared roads service within Ayrshire.

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance will be governed by a joint committee of elected members from the two Councils, with the service being led by East Ayrshire Council, to deliver roads services throughout East and South Ayrshire. The services will include road maintenance, design and infrastructure, traffic and transportation and road safety.

The new shared service will mean continued service standards in an environment of reducing public sector budgets. Over a ten year period, it is estimated that the new arrangement will achieve total joint savings of more than £8m as a result of reduced management and administration costs and better economies of scale.

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Under the agreement, around 90 South Ayrshire employees will transfer to East Ayrshire Council in April 2014, but they will keep their existing terms and conditions.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: "The new Ayrshire Roads Alliance reflects the recommendations from the Christie Commission 'unless Scotland embraces a radical, new, collaborative culture throughout our public services, both budgets and provision will buckle under the strain', and today's agreement by both Councils signals the way forward for roads services not only in Ayrshire but across Scotland.

"We know from experience that partnership working brings many benefits and we are looking forward to working even more closely with our colleagues in South Ayrshire Council to deliver a strong and effective roads service which will drive up efficiency and resilience."

Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, added: "We're on a journey to deliver something new that will make a positive difference for our communities and I'm pleased we will continue to take this exciting project forward in partnership with East Ayrshire Council."

(JP/CD)