'Radical changes' will help Shropshire Council save £70m

Public services across Shropshire will undergo "radical" changes in the county council's bid to save £70 million in four years.

The warning came from Shropshire Council's chief executive, Kim Ryley, who took part in the BBC's Politics Show, which was aired yesterday.

The show looked at how services provided by Shropshire Council, such as libraries, are undergoing a huge change.

Mr Ryley said: "I think this is an era defining moment for local government. This is as radical as anything I have seen in 30 years in public service.

"We are re-writing the script. We are re-writing the relationship between the local state and the citizens - what we expect of each other, how we work together in the future and how that is going to be paid for."

Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said services would now be delivered differently, including partnerships. He said: "We are going to be providing services differently.

"The library services are a good example and social enterprise and working with community groups. You might even get a partnership which includes the private sector.

"I think every one of us has a responsibility. Big society for me means being a good neighbour."

On library services, James Anthony-Edwards, head of libraries at Shropshire Council, said: "We know we can't save money and stand still because the service will suffer, so we need to develop the service and at the same time save money.

"That is why we are really focusing on innovative ways of providing libraries rather than just saying we will close 'x' number of libraries here, here and here."