Tories Bow to Lib Dem Contract Demands

12.00.00am GMT Thu 29th Jan 2004

... insufficient control over the performance of these contracts!

The Lib Dems at Surrey County Council have persuaded the Tory administration to set up an in depth review into the way that the County's contracts are set up and monitored. The County Council is contracting out more and more of its services including such things as school transport but it was revealed last week that the council has inadequate information regarding the performance of that and other contracts.

Lib Dem group leader Councillor Janet Maines said, "The Liberal Democrats will be keeping a very close watch on this review. I am extremely concerned about the possible waste of taxpayers' money through insufficient control over the performance of these contracts!".

She added, "The Conservatives insist that they are good at managing taxpayers' money but financial management should mean much more than the figures adding up. Knowing where and how the money is spent is just as important".