Red tape holding councils back

4.29.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 14th Dec 2005

Responding to the Local Government Association's announcement that £1.8bn could be saved by reducing red tape for councils, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said:

"These figures show just how much money the Government wastes checking up on people.

"Local services suffer when councils have to spend half their time jumping through hoops set by central Government.

"The whole system is skewed to make life difficult for councils, with the unfair Council Tax, hordes of inspectors, and leaves of performance indicators.

"But councils should be accountable to the people who elected them, not to distant Whitehall bureaucrats."

Cllr Richard Kemp, Leader of the Liberal Democrat LGA Group added:

"The finance system has become a game of hide and seek. This year is even less transparent than before. It's time for a change."