THREE councils are to join forces to see if they can make their financial services more efficient.
Darlington, Richmondshire and Teesdale councils will investigate working together on matters such as collection of council tax and business rates housing benefits payments.
Martin Drydale, head of Richmondshire District Council's financial unit, said: "At present, all three councils have separate arrangements for delivering the same services and, in a climate when local authorities are having to make financial savings, it makes sense to share some of the administrative load.
"The review will help us to identify how we can work more efficiently and save val-uable public money.
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