When central Government starts cutting grant funding to local authorities, council leaders are forced to take action and cut back local services.

Three years ago, the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils pre-empted a funding crisis by announcing they would share key services to save about £750,000 a year.

As a result, they have saved millions of pounds for the taxpayer, and joint chief executive David Buckle has come up with another idea — sharing office space.

On May 6, the day of the local election count, Mr Buckle briefed our reporters that a priority after the election would be addressing the question of making further economies, with the councils’ headquarters at the top of his agenda.

He has, however, refused to talk to us further at this stage on the possible options for the future of the Vale’s Abbey House in Abingdon, and SODC’s home at Crowmarsh. No decisions have yet been taken, but it is crucial that staff are kept fully briefed as any proposals are taken forward or morale could be seriously undermined.