THE council is hoping to transform the way it works by working directly with the community.

Wigan Council is hoping to team up with residents to launch a new way of delivering services that it says will strengthen communities and save money.

Its Deal, which was launched in March 2014, is a new approach to local government that aims to support people to improve their own communities and help them become more self-reliant.

Due to the government’s austerity measures, Wigan Council has already saved £100m since 2010 and needs to save a further £30m of by 2017.

The Deal originally focused on increasing recycling levels, investing in community projects and encouraging residents to use online services.

Now the council is teaming up with volunteers, community groups and other organisations to bring the Deal directly to thousands of doorsteps across the borough.

Lord Peter Smith, leader of Wigan Council, said: “Through the Deal we are completely transforming how we work as a council.

“It is simply no longer possible for the council to deliver services the way we always have done.

“By working together with our residents we hope to increase their responsibility for their neighbourhoods and encourage more personal responsibility.

“We believe there will be long-term health benefits, both physical and mental, through residents being involved in their communities and engaged with services.

“This will reduce the need for expensive council and health services in the long-term.

“A sign of our success is that we already have other councils looking at what are doing with the Deal and asking us how they can deliver something similar.”

The council will also work with its partners to encourage residents to be healthy, engage with local services, and care for their neighbourhood.

By residents recycling more and going digital the council is already saving £1m a year and has committed to freezing council tax for 2015/16 – another key part of the Deal.