RADICAL plans to shake-up public services across Essex have been welcomed by councillors in Tendring.

Essex is one of only four parts of the country that will take part in the pilot project, which will see councils work together to save taxpayers’ money by reducing duplication and waste.

The Whole Essex Community Budget will see county, district, borough and city councils, along with health, police and criminal justice, work together.

Neil Stock, leader of Tendring Council, said the scheme is a radical approach to the reorganisation of the public sector.

“Although the plans are light years ahead of other areas we can still be more radical when looking at ourselves,” he said.

“It is about looking at the total amount of public sector money being spent in an area, which in Essex’s case is around £12.8 billion.

“The partners then work together with joined-up thinking to save money, become more efficient and create better outcomes for people.”