Publication of the 'backward look' Annual Efficiency Statements (AESs) in August provided further evidence that local government will exceed the government-imposed efficiency savings target of ￡1.0bn for 2005/06. The statements showed a total of ￡700m of gains achieved in 2004/05. And, combined with the anticipated savings for 2005/06 outlined in the 'forward looks', local government is, in fact, set to make ￡1.9bn of savings in 2005/06. This is, of course, ￡1.9bn worth of good news. Authorities will use the money to continue to improve services for local people - for local government, the efficiency agenda is not simply about balancing the books. Local government's approach is in stark contrast to that of central government departments. Full details of local government's targets and savings are publicly available on the OPDM's website. It is disappointing that such transparency is lacking in the rest of the public sector.
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