Shropshire Council reduce costs by £32 million in 12 months

Through making changes in the way it delivers its services, Shropshire Council says it has met the challenging target of the biggest spending cut ever faced by local councils across the country.

Following Government funding cuts major reductions in spending totalling £85 million over three years have to be made by the council. The biggest part of the cut had to be made within the first year, 2011-12.

Shropshire Council say the changes have made it a leaner organisation and one that is better equipped for the future, capable of tackling the challenges of further funding cuts ahead.

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet met today to review the Capital and Revenue Monitoring Reports, which confirmed the council balanced its books for the 2011-12 financial year, reducing costs for local taxpayers by £32.3 million over the past 12 months.

Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of the council, welcomed the progress made: “This has been an incredibly challenging time for everyone and we have done our utmost to ensure that we protect the most vulnerable and support our key business sectors in Shropshire.

“I am delighted that we have been able to avoid any increase in our element of the Council Tax bill for the third year running. We owe it to the people of Shropshire to ensure we give them a truly efficient council, offering real value for money, without sacrificing the quality and range of the many important services we offer. I believe, that if we were a private company and our electorate were shareholders, Shropshire residents should be delighted in the progress of their organisation and be satisfied with the further improvements we plan to make over the next few years.

“Our staff have been wonderful during this difficult period of major change.”

Kim Ryley, chief executive of Shropshire Council, said: “Difficult decisions have been made over the past year, but we are now in a position to start to look forward to a bright and flourishing future for Shropshire. Given the changing needs and preferences of local people, the council recognises the need to boldly change the way we do things. In some cases, our local partners and communities themselves are better placed to deliver services in ways that are innovative, engaging, and more fitting to the ever changing needs of our society.

“We will continue to challenge ourselves to change our role and evolve our organisation, so that it concentrates on shaping Shropshire as a great place to live, work in, and visit. I want to personally thank our staff, and our local partners, for all they are doing to make this possible.”