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