North Lanarkshire Council has agreed efficiency savings totalling £10m for 2009/10, boosting the budget available to invest in frontline services for residents.

This is the third year in which the council has proposed £10m of savings as part of its Service and People First programme, which is on target to deliver £50m of efficiency savings over five years. The total savings include £2.170m from the council services and £7.324m from corporate efficiencies.

Councillor John Pentland, Convener of the Policy and Resources (Finance and Customer Services) Sub-Committee, said: "We have been able to achieve this level of savings by continuing to review the way the council operates and identifying how it can be done better. Importantly, however, this is being achieved without compromising the quality of services that we provide to residents."

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Cllr Pentland said due to the economic situation the council faced real challenges in preparing the budget for 2009/10: "Like all councils, we have experienced increased fuel and energy costs, but our financial management and the efficiency savings achieved last year and planned for the year ahead, mean we are in as strong a position as possible to continue to invest in the services that matter to local people."

Among the areas where corporate efficiencies have been identified are: reducing the costs of recruitment by advertising council vacancies through a national web site, cutting energy use by 5% in council facilities and reducing property costs following a review of council properties to make the best use of resources.

The council will hold a special meeting on Thursday February 12 to set its budget for 2009/10.

(GK/JM)