Local councils have managed the budget cuts well, but the scope for further efficiency savings is rapidly diminishing

Many city councils who are complaining that budget cuts are leading to an impending catastrophe have good cause for alarm given the scale of the cuts. However, the perception amongst the public is that not much has changed regarding their local services. In their new research, Nick Bailey and Annette Hastings find that up to now, councils have managed the majority of the cuts through efficiency savings: removing management and central support services or consolidating offices. But the scope for further efficiency savings is rapidly diminishing, implying fundamental change is coming.