FIX 6: Tories refuse to cut waste at County Hall

7.57.55am GMT Thu 26th Feb 2009

The Tories on Tuesday refused to cut waste at county hall when confronted in the budget debate with the need for much deeper reductions in costs.

Lib Dem Leader Chris White said: 'The Tories are boasting that they have made £17.4 million efficiency savings. But at a time of deep recession it should not be too difficult. Suppliers know full well that everybody is reducing margins and will be willing to offer much keener prices.

'We have proposed that an extra £3 million be saved by reducing procurement costs especially in highways, £3.75 million be saved from reducing staff numbers and £600,000 saved from reducing the endless stream of glossy publications pouring out of county hall which are not being read by anyone.'