The leader of Staffordshire County Council has called for closer links between public sector services to be developed in 2016.
Cllr Philip Atkins insisted the authority would work “even better and even harder” to ensure money is spent effectively across the county.
And he admitted that even more cooperation will be needed.
“Undoubtedly we need to make the £7.2billion public purse spent in Staffordshire work even better and even harder,” he said. “This is our biggest single challenge and partnerships in 2016 will be at the heart of the decisions we take.”
Councils across the country are facing cuts to the funding they receive from Government, but Cllr Atkins said there would not be time to complain about a reduced budget.
He said: “We recognise the challenge and in 2016 our focus must not be on the problem, but on the solutions which will lead us to better outcomes for our residents.
“We need to do more to support people to help themselves, their families and their communities by helping people to make good choices to be active, healthy and independent for as long as possible.
“It is devolution, local people making local decisions and taking on more personal responsibility, as local services become even more locally funded from local taxation.
“In 2016, we will continue to explore with partners how wider devolution could work for Staffordshire around economic growth, skills and productivity and community health.”
