AN INNOVATIVE scheme for a Teesside council to deliver services elsewhere has led to more work and a cash boost.

Stockton Borough Council set up the Xentrall Shared Services organisation in 2008 to provide back office services to both Stockton and Darlington local authorities.

Now Northumberland County Council has commissioned Xentral to provide an information technology service which will generate about £70,000 in the first year, while providing savings for all three councils.

The plan mean that Northumberland council will relocate its servers to existing data centres in Darlington and Stockton.The plans were approved by Stockton council’s cabinet in March and works to transfer the servers will begin this month.

Leader of the Stockton authority, Bob Cook, said: “Xentrall is an excellent example of how partnership work with our neighbouring local authorities helps to provide services that benefit all our customers.”

Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington council, said: “This will mean that all three councils will make bigger savings.”