26/07/10 - Trafford's Plans To Tackle Budget Deficit.

Trafford Conservatives are preparing to launch detailed plans to tackle Trafford’s share of the reduction in spending deemed vital by the Coalition Government to deal with the previous Labour Governments financial crisis.

Council leader Councillor Matthew Colledge said  "Make no mistake that the savings we are having to make here in Trafford, that will effect local residents and businesses are a direct result of the almost criminal overspending by Labour when in Government. However in Trafford under the Conservatives we have a good record of running an efficient council and we are using this same approach to tackle our biggest challenge yet – delivering an unprecedented £60 million pounds of savings over the next 4 years. All services will be affected to some extent but we are protecting frontline services as much as we can. The current tough times will require tough decisions, everyone is being affected by the national financial position and Trafford is no exception.

"We are currently looking through every service provided by the council to see how we can realise savings without affecting the quality and quantity of front line provision. I know that things will not be easy. To say, as Labour do in Trafford, that there cannot be any change to jobs or how services are provided will only mean that the council will slide in to financial oblivion and then we would be in to devastating cuts.  We are taking a far more considered and planned approach which will keep reduction in services and job losses to a minimum whilst delivering multi million pounds savings to the council.’

Trafford is already one of the most efficient Council's in the North West with the lowest Council tax in the region and some of the highest resident satisfaction levels in Greater Manchester. Local Conservatives are working hard to ensure that, as far as possible, front line services are protected from the impact of the previous Labour government's economic recklessness.

Significant efficiency savings have been achieved since taking control of the Council in 2004 - over £70 million in total. Huge extra effort is now being undertaken to achieve a further c£10m of efficiency savings in 2010/11 and c£11m in 2011/12. These savings are mainly to be achieved through more efficient 'back office' functions and new ways of working that mean we improve productivity and our service levels to residents. Our work in this area will result in a return on investment of £10 for every £1 spent - with savings to date invested back into front line services. Council officers confirm that if our investment in improving efficiency were not made, approximately 600 front line posts would have to be axed with no service improvement.

Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Transformation and Resources, Alex Williams said:

"The Trafford Labour Group have again admitted that they would not have invested in improving the efficiency of Council services. Having left the country with the largest national debt of all time, they also want to waste local taxpayers' money by blocking our moves for more efficient services and increased value for money. They also threaten front line services in Trafford with a 'head in the sand' attitude that refuses to deal with the 25% to 30% of funding cuts that their Government caused."

"Its clear that if Labour were in control in Trafford, they would take us back to the bad old days of inefficiency, poor services and record Council tax rises. They would have to cut 600 front line jobs immediately because they are unwilling to invest in improved services and protect front line jobs. They should own up to local residents which 600 front line jobs they would axe and which vulnerable residents would suffer as a result. Their disgraceful attitude to local services and residents shows how they are totally unfit to run Trafford Council ever again."