There will be few winners

Tomorrow the City Council will set its budget.

I could complain about the fact that for the first time as well as a budget proposal, we are being asked to include debate on policy papers which involve major restructuring in the name of savings. I could complain that we were never given a draft agenda, as is the convention, so that we could rasie this issue before the papers went public. I could complain that one of the proposals is two pages long but could be the first step to privatising the home care service but there is so little detail its embarrassing. But I won't.

Instead I will simply suggest you read this link. Its hard evidence that what I have been saying about the concordat and the threat it brings for whole swathes of organisations dependent on public funding for their vital work in public service. Whatever the administration force through tomorrow, the road ahead under this new so called settlement for many folk is bleak and it will only get worse.

As for my first budget in opposition, well its a new experience and we have a couple of we plans to, I hope. liven things up a bit. I will report back on how successful we are.