It can be done

Hammersmith and Fulham (Conservative controlled) Council, has just announced a reduction of 3% in council tax, for the second consecutive year. They have saved costs by productivity increases, reduced debt repayments, office space, and energy consumption, among other things. They list details of savings of nearly £4 million.

Lest anyone suggest that they have penalised youth groups or retirement homes, - the usual catcalls from the Labour party, they have also increased spending on 24 hour police teams in town centres, and on parks and education. Perhaps the best proof is that simultaneously they have increased their Audit Commission rating to four stars - which means offering the very highest standards across the board.

At the same time the neighbouring (Conservative) Council at Ealing has made significant savings, in fact of about £10 million. They, however, have decided that they should return the "dividend" to rate payers by spending more on street cleaning, recycling, road surfacing and 50 new police support officers.

Which is the correct policy can only be decided by rate-payers, but what is abundantly clear is that both councils have made significant savings without reducing quality of service. In both competitive tendering, reduction in armies of special advisers (- Labour is the same at local level as in Westminster), cutting waste and bureaucracy and promoting more efficient ways of working have saved a considerable sum of money. It can be done.

Ealing may have a slight edge when it comes to Government grants in the future. H & F may find their savings met by a reduced grant!