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County plans £140m cuts
County council bosses have admitted services in Herts cost up to £200million more to provide compared to better performing local authorities.
As a result Tory-controlled Herts County Council is planning to cut 140million from the budget over the next three years, with 30million of savings identified so far this year.
Deputy leader David Lloyd said: "We are more expensive per head than many other councils.
"Compared to Hampshire we charge about 150 to 200 more per head for the same range of services.
"I suspect we are a slightly higher cost area. We have more tiers of management."
Mr Lloyd said the county's 'transformation programme' aimed to cut the cost of providing services by 70million by reviewing contracts and providers.
He said another 40million would be found through efficiencies, but he denied the cutbacks would hit frontline services.
He also claimed if the Conservatives win the upcoming general election council tax will remain frozen for another two years.
"What people really want is to get better services and pay no more money," he said.
"The transform programme is about we provide the same service for people but we take out the cost.
"What we have got to start saying is what do we require as an outcome now and how do we get there in the cheapest possible way?
"We need to know what services need to be provided and what the user requires. If you start from that it's much easier."
The county council has agreed a budget of 751million.
The transformation programme has included downsizing the number of buildings the council uses from 50 to just four.
Council tax bills in Dacorum are going up by 0.6 per cent to 1,437.02 for an average band D home because of increases agreed by Dacorum Borough Council and Herts Police Authority.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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