Tories on course to limit council tax rise

The leader of Staffordshire County Council has vowed that he will meet the Conservative manifesto pledge to limit council tax increases despite the tough financial climate.

Councillor Philip Atkins, who took over from Labour in June, said finances were in good shape and the council would deliver on the promise of a maximum rise of two per cent for the next two years.

Unveiling the council's financial strategy at a cabinet meeting yesterday, Councillor Atkins said he would be looking to save £20 million next year and £40 million in 2011-12.

Despite the savings, which would rise to rising to £80 million in 2014-15, Councillor Atkins said services would be protected.

The cabinet agreed to create an Innovation and Efficiency Board to examine council departments and find new, cheaper ways of delivering services.

"We are in a strong position in Staffordshire which has seen steadily improving services in recent years and our wider finances are stable, Councillor Atkins said.

"We will need to radically alter our thinking and by doing this we will be able to meet the challenges that we face over the next few years.

"We will try to get the council tax lower than two per cent if it's possible," Councillor Atkins added.

Managers had been reminded they were responsible for keeping their spending down, but he was not looking for people to "slice money out of the services", but to do things in a more efficient way.

Among the key aims of the Conservative administration is to keep council tax low, raise standards in schools, improve care for the elderly, invest in roads, boost the economy and involve communities in decision making.

All major council departments will see their budgets shrink over the next few years, but the cabinet claims this may not mean service cuts.

The deputy Conservativeleader, Councillor Ian Parry said: "We are not a council that believes in cuts. We believe that there is a better way.

"We are a council that believes in spending less on one thing so we can spend more on another that is a higher priority."