rural cuts

This article profiles the whirlwind we are facing in 2015 in terms of local government funding – when everyone tells me things will be much worse than many fear. Bob Kerslake seems committed to “tough love” – however I believe you can only be so “innovative” and swallow so many bitter pills before things collapse. Perhaps I am being too pessimistic – but rural authorities are likely to get the worst end of the funding stick even if we do get through!! The article tells us:

Sir Bob Kerslake, permanent secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government, has defended cuts to council budgets and said local authorities need to think “radically” and use health budgets to transform services.

His words came during a communities and local government committee meeting to discuss the work of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield South East and chair of the committee, asked Kerslake what he made of Sir Merrick Cockell the chair of the Local Government Association’s recent warning that council cuts are unsustainable.

Kerslake said: “We are not denying there are challenges for local government delivering these numbers, but do not agree with the view that calls it unsustainable and evidence so far is that local authorities have been effective in delivering savings.”

“What we are clear about is delivering savings does require radical thinking about services,” he added.