Lib Dems at County Hall call for consultant cuts instead of service cuts

1.17.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Sep 2005

The Conservative administration at County Hall has today announced that they will be hiring consultants to carry out a financial review less than one year after the Council completed the last review. The Liberal Democrat councillors on Surrey County Council are pressing the Conservative Administration to make savings in back office costs, to make the County Council more efficient and to cut wasted spending.

The Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Hazel Watson commented: "Last year the Conservative administration carried out a review of spending by the Council, but few savings have been achieved. As a result, they are now having to admit failure and having to carry out yet another review, this time with consultants. The Administration has proved to be unable to act to achieve the required savings."

She continued: "The County Council could be saving money by reducing spending on consultants, agency staff and energy bills. But the Conservative Administration has done exactly the opposite of what is required. Between 2003/4 and 2004/05 spending on consultants has more than doubled reaching £34m, spending on agency costs has more than tripled reaching nearly £50m and energy bills have exceeded £6.5m last year."

Councillor Watson added: "Faced with financial pressures in the past, the Conservatives at County Hall have cut bus services and library books in preference to making the Council more efficient. The Liberal Democrats are seeking to protect the services that the public need. Cutting services is not necessary if action is taken to stop the Council wasting money. It is now time that the Conservatives take the necessary action to avoid cuts in services needed by the public."