Rumours of shared services shot down.

BOROUGH chiefs have scotched rumours they are planning to join forces with a neighbouring authority to create a ‘super-council’.

Rumours surfaced last week that Hackney Council was in talks with Haringey Council over proposals to link some services in an effort to cut costs.

Both authorities are currently finding ways to tighten the purse strings following the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) with Hackney looking to slash �60 million for next year alone.

When quizzed by the Gazette, the council said it had never even spoken to Haringey about the possibility.

A council spokesperson said: “Hackney Council is part of the North London Collaborative Working and Efficiency Savings Board.

“As part of this group, Hackney and its neighbouring boroughs discuss ways in which we can collaborate in order to operate more effectively and efficiently. A typical example of this is joint procurement arrangements, which obviously offers councils better value for money in buying goods and services and helps make vital efficiency savings.

“However, at no stage have we discussed the idea of merging council services with those at Haringey Council.”