'WE'LL SPEND YOUR CASH MORE WISELY'.

Byline: B Phillip Nifield South Wales Echo 

A cost-cutting drive has been launched - with the promise of savings being pumped into frontline services in Cardiff.

Consultants KPMG have been drafted in to provide advice to the Liberal Democrat-controlled council on making efficiency savings.

Among the areas the firm has suggested could be tackled to release resources and improve productivity include:

Locating council facilities, including libraries, together so surplus buildings could be sold;

Dealing with surplus school places, which is currently being looked at;

Looking at reducing office space, including more flexible working such as remote working and hot desking;

Bringing direct service units together and reducing the need for outside contractors in some service areas;

Decreasing energy consumption through basic energy awareness;

Working with other authorities to bring shared savings in 'back office' functions such as recruitment, training, council tax administration and pay and benefits.

Council leader Rodney Berman said: 'The administration does not believe the council has always been as efficient as it could be, and we can no longer follow the ways of the former Labour administration in simply allowing council tax to soar year on year.

'That's why we've commissioned this wide-ranging review. We need to become more efficient to free up resources that can be reinvested in frontline services. It's the only way we can improve services without placing an undue burden on Cardiff's council taxpayers.

'We've already made a start by beginning to slim down our senior management.

'This has so far saved around pounds 137,000 a year, with further planned savings of around pounds 265,000 a year over the next few years.'