Councils, cuts and confusion

The procession of politicians stepping forward with scary statistics about spending continues.

Latest to go, Wiltshire Council, and there were plenty of gloomy figures being bandied about.

A total of 240 jobs going - £40m being cut by next April. And increasing demand on services.

Reporters, particularly those covering a wider area, naturally make comparisons - and that's where the trouble begins.

Wiltshire's unitary authority say over the next four years they must save £100m, invest and redirect £124m into priority areas, while losing £122m government funding. Figure that out!

Looking at neighbouring councils can make matters worse. Somerset County Council talk of a £75m deficit over three years. Gloucestershire warn of cutting £120m over four years. Oh, and remember those counties also have district councils with their own financial troubles.

So how do we guage how bad it really is?

I'd suggest two ways. Seeing how local residents are affected (a long term measure), and guaging the mood (much quicker!).

We will be watching and reporting tangible effects like library or swimming pool closures over the next few years.

But for now it's worth noting how Wiltshire Council's top people are feeling.

The leader, Jane Scott, was smiley. The chief executive Andrew Kerr was serene.

And he had a simple message: merging five councils to create one last year had come at almost exactly the right time - "a fantastic opportunity".

I wonder whether Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for local government who's railed against new unitary authorities, will notice.