Despite our best efforts, councils are losing the war against the cuts

Back in 2016, I warned the government that councils could not take any more shocks to what is already a shocked system. This week’s National Audit Office report on councils’ financial sustainability bears that out, with the watchdog warning of a worrying number facing a cliff edge.

 It comes as no surprise to council chief executives and no doubt we will get the usual Orwellian soundbite response from government. I predict something along the lines of: “Overall, councils will see a real-terms increase in resources over the next two years, more freedom and fairness and with a greater certainty to plan and secure value for money.” Blah blah blah.

Council chief executives tend not to wave bleeding stumps. When I asked 30 chief executive colleagues, via WhatsApp, what it feels like to manage councils right now, they told me: “Don’t whine.”

Source: theguardian