Drive for
council efficiency saves millions - Communities and Local
Government
More than £1.7 billion of taxpayers' money was reported saved last
year as a result of the Government's drive to make local government more
efficient, announced Communities Secretary John Denham.
New figures published today show that local authorities reported
£1.76 billion of savings during 2008-09, by making services more
efficient and improving value for money - equivalent to £98 for the
average band D council tax payer.
John Denham welcomed the substantial progress made by local government, but
challenged councils to continue to re-think the way they deliver services
in order to make taxpayers' money work as hard as possible in the current
climate.
Over
£180m further investment for council housing - Communities
and Local Government
Housing Minister John Healey launched the second phase of the biggest
council house building programme for almost two decades. He stated that
councils must include details of how they will create new apprenticeship
schemes if they expect to receive funding.
Mr Healey wrote to all council leaders in England encouraging them to
consider submitting bids to deliver around £180 million of investment
that could fund construction of a further 1,200 new council homes, create
or safeguard 7,500 new jobs and over 180 apprenticeship schemes.
The Minister also added that he is keen to see bids that will see new
council homes built to high energy efficiency standards, helping cut CO2
emissions and reduce energy bills for the families that live in them.
