Show us the money‏

Local government branches in the East Midlands are not taking proposed budget cuts lying down. With the help of the regional office and national office, East Midlands branches are asking very searching questions of councils about their budget proposals.

Some of the questions that have been asked are:

- how reserves can be used to help support the budget
- whether earmarked reserves have been reviewed to see if money to support services can be freed up
- what is spent on agency workers / consultants and what management measures the council will put in place to control these costs
- levels of council tax

The exact details of the questions asked by two branches, Ashfield UNISON and Lincolnshire County UNISON have been posted on the region's "Local Government Matters" blog here and here.

It is well worth a read as some of the questions could be adapted for use by other local government branches. Branches in the East Midlands are asking searching questions of their councils - and branches everywhere need to do the same.

The Ashfield and Lincolnshire County branches have shown that by taking the time to look at the Statement of Accounts and the most current budget proposals (both easily available from a council's website - or by just asking the council) it is possible to challenge cuts with some legitimate questions.