Havering LBC and Newham LBC would not be the most likely couple to be developing an ambitious and aspirational shared services partnership.

Although they are both East London boroughs, they are not geographically connected and have different political and governance cultures.

Newham LBC is predominantly Labour and led by directly-elected mayor Sir Robin Wales. Havering is a Conservative run borough founded on the cabinet system.  But the authorities have transcended any differences to forge a new partnership called ‘One Source' through which 1,300 staff – around 500 from Havering and 750 from Newham – and 21 separate services will be merged into a new entity.

Run under a joint-committee, One Source is set to go live in April as potentially London's biggest shared service initiative for councils.