THE leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council has praised the authority’s financial performance and ongoing transformation.

Speaking at a meeting of the full council on June 18, Councillor Stephen Parnaby said the council had a “reputation for strong financial management”.

The authority has saved £71.1million in the past four years in response to Government funding cuts and service budget pressures, but says it needs to save £70 million over the next four years.

Cllr Parnaby was responding to a question from another Conservative councillor, Richard Harrap, who has asked how the council had managed it finances and how it would continue to deliver good services in the years ahead.

He answered: “This has been achieved by focusing on the council’s priorities and plans as well as planning ahead.

“The council started to take action ahead of Government funding reductions in 2009 and continues to plan ahead so that savings can be fully realised when funding cuts are made.”

He said technology will be increasingly used so residents can “self-serve” to access council services and interact with the authority, and the co-location of services at community hubs like the Withernsea and Hessle Centres was helping to deliver savings and drive major changes.

Reserves had been earmarked to support services such as adult and children’s social care through significant legislative and financial change, Cllr Parnaby added.