LIB DEM MISMANAGEMENT MUST BE REMEDIED (20/02/02)

Whilst the Conservative group acknowledges the difficulties caused by central Government’s poor funding of services, it is unable to support a rise on such a phenomenal scale and have called for a strategic review of Council services.

Over the past eight years, the Liberal Democrats of Somerset have increased Council Tax by nearly 60%. While it is not hard to appreciate how poorly we have been treated by this Labour Government, it is equally not hard to appreciate how poorly managed Somerset’s finances have been.

It is the County Council’s responsibility, and indeed duty, to provide the best services possible with the money we have. It is all too easy to recover the budget deficit by increased taxation. It is a little harder to assess service provision and look at where costs can be reduced. Of course the current administration does not wish to undertake a fundamental review. Of course it does not want to admit that there are clear areas of mismanagement. However, the Conservative Group is not so hesitant.

Conservative leader, John Smeaton commented, ‘we have put forward a recommendation to conduct a far-reaching review into the methods and costs of providing our services. We are anxious to have a cross-party panel to establish a process of review, in order to avoid the necessity of such a vicious tax rise in the future.

‘If the Council were a privately-run business, these increased costs simply would not be tolerated and in fact might lead to a company facing bankruptcy. As this cannot happen to a Council, there is little incentive to keep costs to a minimum. It is very true that it is much easier to spend money when it is not your own. Simply because we CAN get away with ridiculous financial mismanagement, does not mean we SHOULD. It is about time someone at County Hall put the breaks on this runaway expenditure train and said ‘no’. A fundamental review is well overdue and it is the Conservative Group who are standing up and demanding one.’

Conservative finance spokesman, Colin Hill said, ‘I cannot overestimate the need for a reassessment of service provision at County Hall. I am not saying it will be easy, but we must not shy away from it. In essence, we are suggesting a reduction in staffing costs, which does not automatically mean redundancies. The natural staff turnover per annum is 10%. If a programme of re-training were set up, a proportion of these posts could be covered by colleagues, rather than through new employees. This would be a relatively inexpensive process compared with the millions of pounds spent on staff wages and pension contributions. This is just one area where we hope to make savings. Another significant focus of the review will be on non-statutory service-provision. What we are saying is, if we do not have to fulfil a certain function, why should the Somerset taxpayer be paying for it?’