John Healey has congratulated councils for beating targets in their latest round of efficiency savings. The local government minister said as a result, councils were ‘well-placed to weather the global economic downturn'. Latest annual efficiency figures published this week show over the past three years, councils have saved £3.45bn, the equivalent of £129 off the average B and D council tax bill. Mr Healey added: ‘Councils should be praised for making efficiency savings which have exceeded expectations. In the current economic climate, with families tightening their belts, this is a real help and a clear sign that councils are doing their bit.' Manchester City Council achieved the highest efficiency savings as an equivalent tax saving, with £466 off the average Band D council tax bill and 237 councils achieved more than double their savings target. Other councils in the top 10 saving the most in the past three years were Sheffield (£56.2m), Birmingham (£84.8m), Suffolk (£62.1m), Leeds (£57.3m) and Kent (£76m). Mr Healey, who has made it plain there will be no extra grant to cover inflationary costs, said: ‘Over the next three years, I will be looking for councils to make almost £5bn efficiency savings.'
