John Healey has congratulated councils for beating targets in their latest round of efficiency savings.
The local government minister said as a result, councils were ‘well-placed to weather the global economic downturn’.
Latest annual efficiency figures published this week show over the past three years, councils have saved £3.45bn, the equivalent of £129 off the average B and D council tax bill. Mr Healey added: ‘Councils should be praised for making efficiency savings which have exceeded expectations. In the current economic climate, with families tightening their belts, this is a real help and a clear sign that councils are doing their bit.’
Manchester City Council achieved the highest efficiency savings as an equivalent tax saving, with £466 off the average Band D council tax bill and 237 councils achieved more than double their savings target.
Other councils in the top 10 saving the most in the past three years were Sheffield (£56.2m), Birmingham (£84.8m), Suffolk (£62.1m), Leeds (£57.3m) and Kent (£76m).
Mr Healey, who has made it plain there will be no extra grant to cover inflationary costs, said: ‘Over the next three years, I will be looking for councils to make almost £5bn efficiency savings.’
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