Surrey County Conservatives

Council debates the BDR yet Lib Dems offer no solutions 24th January 2006

Surrey County Council’s Lib Dems have voiced their opposition to the Business Delivery Review at today’s meeting of the County Council by failing to support a Conservative motion endorsing the principles of the review.

Despite their opposition to the review the Liberal Democrats have offered no solution as to how the Council should find substantial savings from it’s budget to address the funding shortfall created by an inadequate level of government grant and keep council tax rises this year to 5%.

The motion to support the Business Delivery Review was overwhelming endorsed by full Council and only the Liberal Democrats failed to sign up to the principles of making efficiency savings and restructuring the Council into a first class service provider.

The BDR has found savings of £22.7m net in 2006/07 which will be achieved through a reduction in overall headcount of 661 employees and more efficient procurement and contract management systems, whilst actually increasing real investment in front line services such as the Adult Service by £4.7m.

Commenting Conservative Group Leader, Nick Skellett, said:

Without the Business Delivery Review we would be facing massive service cuts or council tax rises which would result in the Government capping this authority, yet the Liberal Democrats have failed to support our motion whilst at the same time failing to offer any alternative as to how the Council should address its funding shortfall. Launching The Business Delivery Review was the only sensible long-term option we as a council could justifiably take if we were to make the necessary savings required and keep future rises to council tax to a bare minimum, whilst still ensuring that SCC remains an excellent authority in providing services to Surrey’s residents.”

He added:

“The Lib Dems whilst failing to support today’s motion then claim they have been calling for a similar review for years but the reality is they haven’t even managed to produce alternative budget for the last four years, let alone any credible alternative for finding real savings.”