Leader challenges efficiency demands

12.00.00am GMT Thu 27th Nov 2008

Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Richard Brett (Lib Dem, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill) warns central government squeezing will put further pressure on local government.

A statement to Parliament on Wednesday 26th November by Local Government Minister John Healey announced there would be no further funding available for local authorities. However the minister went further and declared councils throughout the country should find a further £500,000,000 in efficiency savings.

Speaking of the announcement Councillor Brett said:

"Previously Leeds City Council has exceeded government targets to find efficiency savings within our services. An arbitrary efficiency target such as this does little to improve service delivery and will purely put the council under more pressure.

"Instead of constantly targeting local government, squeezing every last penny out of the system, Whitehall should look at some of the scandalous amounts of money that are wasted in their own back yard. We are working hard for the people of Leeds, delivering excellent services, and we will continue to do so, whilst keeping council tax increases as low as possible.."