Liberal Democrats Press for Action

4.57.45pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th Sep 2005

"The Conservatives should be making savings, not spending money on Consultants" warns Hazel Watson.

The Conservative administration at County Hall has announced that they will be hiring Consultants to carry out a financial review - less than one year after the Council completed the last review. The Liberal Democrat councillors on Surrey County Council are pressing the Conservative Administration to make savings in administrative costs, to make the County Council more efficient and to cut wasted spending.

The Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Hazel Watson commented: "Last year the Conservative administration carried out a review of spending by the Council, but few savings have been achieved. As a result, they are now having to admit failure and are carrying out yet another review - this time with consultants. This Administration has proved itself unable to act to achieve the savings required."

She continued: "The County Council should be saving money by reducing spending on consultants, agency staff and energy bills - but, the Conservative Administration has done exactly the opposite of what is required. Between 2003/4 and 2004/05 spending on consultants more than doubled, reaching £34m, spending on agency costs more than tripled, reaching nearly £50m - and last year energy bills have exceeded £6.5m."

Councillor Watson added: "Faced with financial pressures in the past, the Conservatives at County Hall have cut bus services and library books in preference to making the Council more efficient. The Liberal Democrats are seeking to protect the services that the public need. Cutting services is not necessary if action is taken to stop the Council wasting money. It is high time that the Conservatives took the necessary action to avoid cuts in the services needed by the public."