The normally chummy Eric Pickles was in a black mood on the Today programme. Despite
councils’ brazen politicking, Pickles has been deferential in recent months, a stance bemoaned by his allies in local government. But he cut loose this morning.
Ostensibly, he was on the programme to defend his policy that councillors vote, in open session, on pay deals worth over £100,000. He believes this will strengthen local authorities by empowering ‘backbench councillors’, provided that they honour the privilege they have been awarded: council meetings are not renowned for being edifying. (There is clear case for extending the policy to the Civil Service, and no doubt many will call for remuneration in majority publicly owned banks to receive the same scrutiny.)
Many of Pickles’ enemies in local government have resisted transparent pay deals, so Pickles’ determination is welcome. He got a taste for combat. As the interview progressed, he insisted that councils were responsible for the cuts they make; some are being responsible and others are not. “For every Manchester (council), that cuts jobs and claims that every pound saved has to mean a cut in services, there is a neighbouring council that does thing differently. Trafford council for example.”
Facing cuts of £60m, Trafford council is rationalising service infrastructure. It has already merged three anti-juvenile crime and anti-social behaviour units into one. The new unit has been refocused: it is now working with local police to increase direct presence on the streets and to ensure that alcohol licensing is enforced, whilst also co-opting counsellors and volunteers to organise out of school activities for adolescents. Just one staff job has been lost.
The opposition to Pickles is well organised and sustained by the public’s continued demand for government. He needs to be proactive and work with his few vocal allies in local government.
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