LIBERAL Democrat members on Gloucestershire County Council have accused the Conservatives of contradicting themselves and breaking promises in an attempt to cut down on bureaucracy.

The comments come in the wake of a decision by the council to spend £65,000 on a bureaucracy review plan.

Cllr Dennis Andrewartha (Lib Dem, Cam & Dursley) said: "It is a complete contradiction to cut spending by spending £65,000. This is just another instance of the Tory administration breaking its promises and I fear this is a sign of things to come.

"The chief officers who know their own departments are best placed to make efficiency savings without creating another layer of Shire Hall bureaucracy to do the job for them."

A special committee will conduct the bureaucracy review and there will be a new member of staff employed as an efficiency officer. The Lib Dems claim this contradicts a Tory manifesto pledge to freeze recruitment at Shire Hall.

During the community services and corporate performance scrutiny committee, the new administration heard praise from the independent auditor for the previous Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition for the £6million efficiency savings of the past financial year.

The council's uncommitted reserves now stand at £11.7million. Lib Dem group leader Cllr Jeremy Hilton (Westgate) said: "This is conclusive evidence that the previous administration managed the county taxpayers' money effectively.

"I wish to pay tribute to Lib Dem councillor Liz Boait, who provided the leadership on council budgets that places Gloucestershire in such a strong financial position."

The Lib Dems are dismayed at the Conservatives' refusal to reconsider their decision not to appoint an environmental director at the scrutiny committee.

The Tory administration has stuck to its decision, which leader Cllr Barry Dare (Con, Moreton-in-Marsh) justified last month.

Cllr Dare told the Gazette: "We have put the environment department in the hands of the most senior councillor bar the leader and the most senior civil servant bar the chief executive."