COUNCIL bosses are to spend half a million pounds on consultants to show them how to save cash.

Lancashire County Council, which this week was given top marks in an Audit Commission study into value for money, will employ seven experts to oversee a £10million cost-cutting scheme.

But the move has been slammed by opposition councillors who said that cuts should be managed by existing bosses from within the current budget.

The new scheme will see seven consultants being brought in to oversee different departments in the council in a bid to discover where cash can be saved.

Coun David Whipp, leader of the Lib Dems on the county council said he was shocked with the level of expense that the authority is ready to invest in the scheme.

He said: "There are hundreds of highly-paid managers within the county council. I find it very surprising that they are not able to complete a cost-cutting exercise within the existing budget."

Lancashire County Council is currently working on its budget for next year and a range of cost cutting measures will be discussed at a meeting on February 14.

The cost-cutting is hoped to release £10million which will be invested in our road networks.

Anne Brown, cabinet member for resources, admitted that £500,000 is a lot of money but added: "We are looking to save £10m every year.

"We have over 30 projects that are ongoing to increase our efficiency and the problem is co-ordinating them.

"We need to be looking for people with expertise of a particular sort that we don't have in enormous amounts within the organisation."

She said the £500,000 would also cover set-up costs.

Lancashire County Council's budget last year was £634 million. The authority's responsibilities include schools, public transport, highways and waste management.