Commenting on the publication of today’s Smarter Government White Paper, Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the LGA, said:
“We all agree that things need to be done better and cheaper. In giving councils more power to shape local services, Smarter Government is a step in the right direction but it needs to go further in addressing quangos and the lack of accountability over the services they provide.
“Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being spent on bureaucracy. Reducing administration and red tape could save £4.5bn a year before local services are affected. There needs to be a bonfire of red tape so that taxpayers’ money can be freed up to protect frontline services.
“Councils are the most efficient part of the public sector and during these tough times they have a vital role to play if people are going to get the local services they demand and deserve.”