COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (218) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 3 September 2008
Local Government
Minister John Healey has today launched a consultation on giving
the public greater access to information on how efficiently their
council is being run.
Mr Healey wants to put council tax payers themselves at the heart
of the drive to make £5bn town hall savings over the next three
years - worth an average of £184 per Band D council tax payer.
The Minister said council tax payers should see for themselves
how efficiently their council is being run when they receive their
bills, through proposals that complement the Government's aim
that taxpayers receive the maximum value for money.
Under these proposals, all council tax bills would include the
efficiency savings the local authority has made.
Information accompanying the bill would show the average level of
efficiency savings achieved by similar councils over the same time
period so people can see how well their council is performing
compared to other areas.
This will give tax payers information they can use to challenge
their council and hold them to account if they are performing
poorly, whether for example by petitioning their council, or
through the ballot box.
Local Government Minister John Healey said:
"Councils have a good track record in making savings and
becoming more efficient. Over the past four years, they are
expected to have delivered more than £3.3bn savings - the
equivalent of £123 off the average Band D council tax bill.
"But more can always be done so I look for councils to make
around £5bn further savings over the next three years, to meet the
expectations the public rightly hold for councils to deliver for
their local communities. These savings can then be used to further
invest in services or reduce council tax bills.
"I accept this is a big challenge but am confident it can be
achieved - particularly if council tax payers are involved. They
rightly expect improving services and better value for money and
should be entitled to know how their council is performing when
they receive their bills on their doormat.
"That's why I am acting to ensure that local people
will be able to see for themselves how efficiently their council
is run, and to be able to challenge their council if it is under-performing."
Under the proposals, council tax bills and accompanying
information will include key efficiency figures including:
* The savings they expect to have made in the previous financial year;
* These projected savings expressed as the equivalent saving on
the Band D council tax bill and as a percentage of what the
council spent in 2007-08;
* The average projected savings by similar types of councils,
expressed as the equivalent saving on the average Band D council
tax bill; and
* The actual savings made in the financial year two years before
the bill.
In January, Mr Healey announced £185m over the next three years
for Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships, which will
work with councils to help them achieve nearly £5bn efficiency savings.
Notes to editors:
1. Inclusion of efficiency information with council tax demand
notices: a consultation paper is published today and can be found
at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/counciltaxefficiencyinformation
2. Funding for Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships
was announced on 15 January, 2008. Details can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/649334
3. Between April 2004 and March 2008, councils are expected to
have made £3.3bn cash-releasing savings, which can be used to fund
local priorities or reduce council tax bills.
4. The £3.3bn efficiency savings are the equivalent of £123 off
the average Band D council tax bill. In line with other public
services, councils are expected to make three per cent annual
efficiency savings, amounting to £4.9bn between April 2008 and
March 2011, and the equivalent of £184 for the average Band D bill.
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom