Local authority will use same online database as Barking & Dagenham, Lambeth, Lewisham, Havering and Croydon

Brent Council have announced plans to merge some of their services with another five boroughs from across London in a cost cutting drive.

Brent will join the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Lambeth, Lewisham, Havering and Croydon to introduce the same online database, Oracle (release 12)* (R12).

Oracle R12 is a single online database that manages businesses’ human resources, finance, payroll and procurement functions.

The move to use the service is expected to generate combined savings of around �6m.

The idea is that employees are able to request leave, pay for services and manage budgets though one database and online reporting tool, rather than using several systems or through spreadsheets.

However, it is not known if the scheme will result in any council job losses as yet.

Councillor Ruth Moher, Brent Council’s deputy leader and lead member for corporate and finance resource, said: “This is a common sense solution for councils that have common needs.

“We all have similar support functions, like HR, finance and procurement and if we have one way of doing them we streamline our processes, save costs and protect our services for residents.”

Detailed plans for implementing the Oracle R12 system and moving towards a shared services model will take place over the next few months.

The project has been part funded and supported by Capital Ambition and is part of the pan London Athena programme which seeks to implement and converge IT and business processes across London resulting in significant savings for London taxpayers.