A DRIVE to cut costs by sharing council services in York with other local authorities across Yorkshire has been launched.

City of York Council leader Coun James Alexander has written to his counterparts asking for them to discuss how they can work together with the aim of cutting costs.

The authority already handles payroll duties for several other organisations and has been developing a “commercial procurement hub” with Calderdale Council.

In a letter to Yorkshire council leaders, he said he would host a York-based event to discuss how shared services could be taken forward.

Coun Alexander said: “This could reduce cost to council taxpayers in York and blunt the depth of cuts required due to Government funding reductions.”