Brent Council's Financial Challenges

I have mentioned before that I don't see a clear direction for Brent's financial challenges over the next four years.  These are essentially the fault of the utterly counterproductive austerity policies of George Osborne, but there is also appears to be a certain leadership drift in Brent Council.

Of course, many experienced staff have been got rid of over the past couple of years.  The high number of interims appointed suggests to me that the restructuring of staff has not been as effective as the 2010 exercise.  This was pointed out by Scrutiny some time ago, but has not been addressed.   This is serious, as the tightening budgets make squeezing out efficiency ever more important , not less. 

Of course, some of the challenges facing the Council make for what may seem like impossible decisions.  Indeed I remember a Finance Director remarking to me that he thought the budget challenges were impossible and he did not envy elected members their role.  More than a year ago, Brent Council officers showed members a set of grim options to deal with the budget reductions that are in place for the next three years.

My view is that most of the potential cuts in the Environment department have been achieved, and that future reductions would be fairly minor in comparison.  The main burden is likely to fall in education and social services.  Some of the difficulties of the Social Care budget are examined here.  Rising demand and expectations and lower budgets are not a good combination.  Similarly Brent has done well in providing school places despite the huge rise in demand, but there are real concerns about the quality of education and how it might deteriorate. 

It concerns me that the political debate doesn't seem to address these issues, and too often concentrates on relatively minor issues.  There are massive challenges ahead and they should be dealt with with by elected, accountable members in an open and honest debate.