David Cameron praises Shropshire Council savings

Wednesday 11th May 2011, 4:30PM BST.

David Cameron

Shropshire Council was this afternoon hailed “a shining example” of making savings while protecting frontline services during an exchange between David Cameron and Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski.

The Shropshire Tory MP cited the local authority’s cost-cutting plans during Prime Minister’s Questions.

Mr Kawczynski said: “Conservative-controlled Shropshire Council have managed to make savings of £30 million, whilst protecting frontline services.

“Part of that has been a reduction in salaries for councillors and senior managers. Will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Shropshire Council on this achievement – and are they not a shining example for other councils up and down the country to follow?”

Mr Cameron agreed councils nationwide were reducing back office costs to protect frontline services.

“It has happened in Shropshire, it has happened in many other parts of the country and it is an example that should be followed,” he added.

View more: Shropshire Council news.

1
julian

May 11, 2011 at 17:05

So basically Kawczynski praised Shropshire, not Cameron. Cameron said Shropshire was doing the right thing, as were many other counties *cough* misleading headline.

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2
bob dobbs

May 11, 2011 at 18:29

…and closing down schools. One particular that is a perfect position for say, a upmarket housing/marina type development.

did he say that too? He should have done.

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3
ken.b

May 11, 2011 at 18:33

quote
“Conservative-controlled Shropshire Council have managed to make savings of £30 million, whilst protecting frontline services.”

i take it they do not include the funding cuts that have been made to police,fire,hospitals as frontline services then.

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4
let me have my say

May 11, 2011 at 19:40

Bet The Mp did not mention that part of this was by setting about closing loads of schools in the process.

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5
Dave Sheffield

May 12, 2011 at 09:22

Whilst protecting frontline services?
Obviously the Wakeman school which was made up of a large percentage of the Towns children was not a frontline service, neither is the Maternity ward at RSH.
I wonder what the shining example of our county council deem to be a frontline service then? Maybe exclusive apartments that will surely replace the Wakeman school once closed in 2013.
A shining example you truly are Shropshire County Council.

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6
ph7

May 12, 2011 at 14:53

As one of the first employees to be made redundant by Shropshire, from a front line post, I beg to differ. Severe cuts are being made to front line services, services are being hived off, travel and other subsidies cut and revenue charges have increased dramatically e.g. bus fares and parking charges. At the same time the Council is proposing to effectively sell their leisure facilities to the highest bidder.

In my experience, particularly at local government reorganisation there was a direct policy of protecting management posts which were unnecessary. They didn’t bite the bullet then and I doubt they will now. Oh, and how much are they paying the consultant who has been brought in to transform an authority which was officially classed as excellent.

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