TIGHTENING belts at Malvern Hills District Council is continuing, in anticipation of further government cuts.

A number of shared heads of service have now been initiated with our partners at Wychavon District Council.

These include responsibilities for Paid Service, Planning & Housing, Economic Development and Resources.

A major step forward at last month’s council meeting was the adoption of further proposals by Jack Hegarty, our chief executive, who is also the managing director at Wychavon.

These involve the restructuring of several departments and the creation of two joint administrative sections to take their place.

Obviously we all worry about the issues that arise from creating a single management team. These involve the possible loss of sovereignty, the impact on corporate direction and strategy, the capacity across both organisations and, of course, the financial implications.

However, even in these circumstances, it is good to know that the district council continues to provide excellent services.

Despite all these changes one has to be grateful, particularly here in Tenbury, for the huge number of people who put themselves forward as volunteers.

Two of my local responsibilities, as a district councillor, are to attend meetings of the Tenbury Tourism Partnership and the Tenbury & District Museum Society.

In both cases the work undertaken is entirely voluntary.

Other newly formed organisations are the Tenbury Transport Trust providing a valuable service for the community and the Tenbury Community Pool.

The TCP has replaced the original Guild which was responsible for its construction many years ago.

It is faced with all major maintenance costs, but not the day to day management of the pool which is provided by Freedom Leisure.

The list of local voluntary organisations goes on and on particularly when you start to include all our sports clubs and village halls etc in the area.