No idea where they are going or what they are doing

Before I go up north, I do need to mention something about the proposed agenda for the Council meeting on the 21st February where the budget will be set.

So far the Libdem/SNP administration have broken three conventions:

1. They did not provide the opposition with a draft agenda so enable our preperation.

2. They have put items on the agenda other than the budget, somethimg we never did.

3. At least one of those items will have budget consequences but they have not given any details of how they will be delivered

Why is this important? Well given that we are going to discuss policy items that affect the budget we should have had more than 6 days notice, not just of the detail but also that they were going to do this unconventional thing in the first place. Transparent, I think not!

One report, the Children and families review, recommends a structure that will save £2m. Sounds good except that they do not say how this will eb achiegved nor has it het been conslted on, but if it is passed will mean that once thay do consult, they will be doing so having set the budget. That means the fundamental issue of what must be saved will have been decided beofre the consultation. Which means whatever proposals are consulted on are budget driven, whatever else they might argue.

Transparent or a basis for "listening to people" it is not. More broken promises I think.