Lib Dems Slam Poor Results on Efficiency Savings

Bedford Borough Council has been ranked as the fourth worst district council in the country when it comes to last years efficiency savings, according to a leading local government publication.

In a survey conducted by the Local Government Chronicle, Bedford

Borough Council is ranked within the worst 10 district authorities when it comes to efficiency savings made by the council against the council's revenue base line in 2004-2005. Lib Dems have been expressing concern for sometime that more needs to be done to control the council's finances and believe the comparisons show just how far Bedford is trailing behind other authorities when it comes to securing greater council efficiency.

Speaking on the issue, Lib Dem group leader Michael Headley said:

"Compared to most other district authorities the borough's recent efficiency

savings are way below par. I have been urging the Mayor and other senior

Cabinet members that we need a complete review of council finances. Other

councils have shown that major savings can be found without having to

resort to cuts in front line services. The council needs to introduce a

process which allows it to systematically examine every area of council spending and whether it is achieving the best value for tax payers. Front line services must remain the priority so we need to find savings beyond this. It's clear from the figures in this survey that more needs to be done and can be done. With high council tax rises already threatened we cannot afford to see the current level of short term fiddling with the budget continue."

ENDS