Osborne: Tory councils show the way in 'age of austerity'

Lessons learnt by Conservative councils about cutting costs in an "age of austerity" will be embraced by a Tory government, councillors will hear today.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne will say: "While we develop our policies for delivering public services in an age of austerity, local councils have got on with doing it.

"When it comes to rooting out waste and cutting costs, or improving services through innovative new policies, Conservative councils are showing us that it can be done.

"In short, Conservative Whitehall will have much to learn from Conservative town halls."

In a speech to the Conservative Councillors' Seminar in central London today, Mr Osborne will say David Cameron's government would aim to introduce nationally next year the pioneering ideas and services of Tory councils.

He will say Whitehall should harness the "unique opportunity" of most councils in England now being controlled by the Tories.

"I want the Conservative Party to learn from what local Conservative councils are doing right now, as they are dealing with many of the constraints that we may face very soon," he says.

Tory councils were already using new approaches to information and transparency, Mr Osborne will say, citing the examples of Windsor Council and the Greater London Authority who were the first councils to publish detailed information about their spending programmes online.

He will also point to innovative methods taken by councils to save money by reducing unnecessary costs through shared services.

Hammersmith and Fulham, for example, reduced administration costs and froze councillor allowances so it could focus resources on local schools and more policing.