Staffordshire councils' printing costs have plummeted over the pandemic, new research by the Taxpayer's Alliance has found.

The research confirmed that councils across the UK have made significant savings on printing in the last year. Local authorities across the country spent £41.6 million on printing between April 2020 and February 2021 - a decline of nearly £32 million (43 per cent) from the previous year.

These savings have been replicated in the Moorlands and indeed the rest of Staffordshire, with huge savings being made by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council in particular.

In 2019-20 the district council spent £24,502 on printing, compared to just £4,330 from April 2020 - February 2021. That's a huge decrease of £20,172 or 82 per cent.

Staffordshire County Council also made significant savings, spending £706,849 in 2019-20 compared to £367,433 from April 2020 - February 2021, representing a saving of £339,416 or 48 per cent.

Analysis of the data from the last three financial years shows the pandemic has seen a significant decrease in council spending on printing. Of the 295 councils which responded to freedom of information requests, 94 per cent (276) reported a drop in expenditure. Only 14 saw an increase, with five experiencing no change.

The council with the highest printing costs in 2020-21 was Aberdeenshire at £1,248,827. The lowest amount was £1,759 by Chorley council in Lancashire. From 2018-19 up to February 2021, local authorities spent a total of £189,778,170 on printing, with notable variations in the amounts different councils spent.

It comes after many households across the country have experienced another year of council tax rises. With over one third of councils in England charging over £2,000 for a Band D bill, the Taxpayer's Alliance says its findings highlight one area where much needed cost-cutting measures have been made, and adds that reducing printing offers both financial and environmental benefits.

In the West Midlands, the council with the highest printing costs between April 2020 and February 2021 was Sandwell, at £683,628. The West Midlands council with the lowest printing costs was Telford and Wrekin, at £4,325.

Harry Fone, grassroots campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "Councils across the country should be congratulated for these printing savings.

"Taxpayers are fed up with their council tax bills shooting up, but covid-19 may reveal some simple savings which can relieve financial pressures and offer environmental benefits too.

"Town hall bosses must lock in these reductions for the long term, and pass the advantages of staying paperless onto hard-pressed residents."

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