Reform to begin Musk-style audits of councils

One thing I am wondering is that because Reform are complete climate change deniers, how are they going to decide what flood defences are needed in Kent, bearing in mind that the flood models are predicated on the fact of climate change.

Maybe they’ve found millions of savings at a stroke😄😄. Hope the Kent folk have their blowup boats in good order.

My experience of Local Government, like the NHS, is not of wasteful spending of money, but of managerial incompetence.

We have, for example, had enquiry after enquiry into failures in Social Service departments, and while these usually accept that funding is tight, the main cause always seem to be that management and systems of management were poor. There was a case reported only yesterday news.sky.com/story/boy-3-starved-and-buried-by-his-parents-became-invisible-to-child-services-review-finds-13378928

If I hear the phrase 'Lessons have been learned' just one more time, I shall scream. Good management, leads to efficient competent workers and, often,money saved or services expanded at no extra cost.

Yes, it's great to have competent management. Meanwhile, how is Reform managing in their new councils. Difficult to tell, when so many planned meetings are being cancelled or postponed. Great start...not.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Read about Thurrock Council today? £268 million?!? Where on earth did they get that amount from in the first place to invest? Hope the council are investigated as well. No wonder Reform think they’re onto a winner here.

Rather than asking others on GN, why not do some proper research and bring that to others. If you have no understanding of how councils work shouldn't you find out before you pontificate? Why do you think others should just agree with your gut reaction?

Is GN a place where those who really want to know can, on one of its forums, be told by those who have that knowledge and/or be directed to knowledgeable sources to learn about political decision making and policy? Or is it just a forum for people who want to be mad at something ... anything?

Thanks to everyone who has added links and/or repeated information. What a different view that gives.

When he's finished with councils he needs to have a go at the NHS. If ever there's an organisation that is crying out for a financial restructure that is the one.

PoliticsNerd

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Read about Thurrock Council today? £268 million?!? Where on earth did they get that amount from in the first place to invest? Hope the council are investigated as well. No wonder Reform think they’re onto a winner here.

Rather than asking others on GN, why not do some proper research and bring that to others. If you have no understanding of how councils work shouldn't you find out before you pontificate? Why do you think others should just agree with your gut reaction?

Is GN a place where those who really want to know can, on one of its forums, be told by those who have that knowledge and/or be directed to knowledgeable sources to learn about political decision making and policy? Or is it just a forum for people who want to be mad at something ... anything?

I think you’re being harsh to FGT who, as many know, has a lot going on at the moment. She is also entitled to her opinion and while it may differ to yours, it’s nonetheless valid. I say this as one who knows only too well how local government works and the waste involved.

He does plan to 'have a go' at the NHS. My belief is that he plans to replace it with the wonderful USA style of 'great if you can afford it' health services.

woodenspoon

PoliticsNerd

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Read about Thurrock Council today? £268 million?!? Where on earth did they get that amount from in the first place to invest? Hope the council are investigated as well. No wonder Reform think they’re onto a winner here.

Rather than asking others on GN, why not do some proper research and bring that to others. If you have no understanding of how councils work shouldn't you find out before you pontificate? Why do you think others should just agree with your gut reaction?

Is GN a place where those who really want to know can, on one of its forums, be told by those who have that knowledge and/or be directed to knowledgeable sources to learn about political decision making and policy? Or is it just a forum for people who want to be mad at something ... anything?

I think you’re being harsh to FGT who, as many know, has a lot going on at the moment. She is also entitled to her opinion and while it may differ to yours, it’s nonetheless valid. I say this as one who knows only too well how local government works and the waste involved.

Having just taken a quick look at the Thurrock story on the BBC, it's not difficult to grasp the bones of the story from a valid source. I do wish our tabloid newspapers could be closed down or their readers could be encouraged to understand that the headlines are there to encourage rage and sell papers!
My own quick glance informed me that Thurrock and other councils were taking advice on financial investments from a body called APSE, Association for Publuc Service Excellence which is owned by local councils. Oh, I thought to myself like the NHS and PFIs, years of cuts by Conservative governments all the way back to George Osborne's austerity policy, forcing councils and the NHS to borrow money at exorbitant rates in order to run public services.

Sarnia

When he's finished with councils he needs to have a go at the NHS. If ever there's an organisation that is crying out for a financial restructure that is the one.

So what can you tell us about "financial restructure" Sarnia. I can see a need for physical restructure - dividing large hospitals into small (much smaller) out of town units, just as you eventually have to do with businesses. I can see the need to use technology to make this work but what would "financial" restructure look like?

I can see a lot of moves forward already as technology is embraced.

Sarnia

When he's finished with councils he needs to have a go at the NHS. If ever there's an organisation that is crying out for a financial restructure that is the one.

It needs managerial rstructuring, not finaancial.

Maremia

He does plan to 'have a go' at the NHS. My belief is that he plans to replace it with the wonderful USA style of 'great if you can afford it' health services.

He has, in the past, said he favours this approach.

For those with pre-existing conditions / complex medical histories / the elderly / the poor, there would likely be a 'medicare/medicaid' style of safety-net. But that is not free either.

I hope people understand the market solution to healthcare.

Dickens

Maremia

He does plan to 'have a go' at the NHS. My belief is that he plans to replace it with the wonderful USA style of 'great if you can afford it' health services.

He has, in the past, said he favours this approach.

For those with pre-existing conditions / complex medical histories / the elderly / the poor, there would likely be a 'medicare/medicaid' style of safety-net. But that is not free either.

I hope people understand the market solution to healthcare.

... to give an example of the 'market approach' to healthcare.

An American friend had a reasonable healthcare policy which covered the bases.

He then suffered from bowel cancer. Briefly - his policy stipulated one CT-scan per six-month period. His consultant - worried about new symptoms - wanted to do a diagnostic CT-scan. Unfortunately, he'd already had one (check-up) a couple of months previously.

The insurers denied payment for this additional scan. I don't know what the out-of-pocket cost was, but my friend could not afford it.

After weeks of 'phone calls and discussions back and forth the insurers finally agreed to pay for part of the diagnostic scan. My friend added the remaining cost to his already mounting bills for out-of-pocket payments.

... I hope people who support Farage's reforms are prepared for this. And for the fact that even the most comprehensive policies can ultimately run out.

I've been following the progress of several councils for years. Colchester is the easiest as for a few years a lovely sensible lady (whoes name I forget), put videos on line of meetings etc. Fascinating watching how Cc members slithered past the truth
And outright lied.
Another is Somerset which is embroiled in a financial scam with no accountability or records to see where thousands of pounds has disappeared.
Then follow Recusant 9 who has been reporting on the failings, fraud and rigging of several councils in the North West.

I have little faith in NF to actually follow through and do anything but capture some publicity for himself or Reform, but any light shone on the problems within our councils is a plus.

Dickens

Dickens

Maremia

He does plan to 'have a go' at the NHS. My belief is that he plans to replace it with the wonderful USA style of 'great if you can afford it' health services.

He has, in the past, said he favours this approach.

For those with pre-existing conditions / complex medical histories / the elderly / the poor, there would likely be a 'medicare/medicaid' style of safety-net. But that is not free either.

I hope people understand the market solution to healthcare.

... to give an example of the 'market approach' to healthcare.

An American friend had a reasonable healthcare policy which covered the bases.

He then suffered from bowel cancer. Briefly - his policy stipulated one CT-scan per six-month period. His consultant - worried about new symptoms - wanted to do a diagnostic CT-scan. Unfortunately, he'd already had one (check-up) a couple of months previously.

The insurers denied payment for this additional scan. I don't know what the out-of-pocket cost was, but my friend could not afford it.

After weeks of 'phone calls and discussions back and forth the insurers finally agreed to pay for part of the diagnostic scan. My friend added the remaining cost to his already mounting bills for out-of-pocket payments.

... I hope people who support Farage's reforms are prepared for this. And for the fact that even the most comprehensive policies can ultimately run out.

I'm a member of a number of online diabetes groups, which have some American members. There are numerous cases where people with diabetes in the US can't afford the medications they've been prescribed. Not only that, but they don't have the checks which the NHS offers for free.

M0nica

Sarnia

When he's finished with councils he needs to have a go at the NHS. If ever there's an organisation that is crying out for a financial restructure that is the one.

It needs managerial rstructuring, not finaancial.

But what does managerial restructuring entail? Most businesses loose their drive forward when they become oversized. Why attack the managers when it seems patently obvious it's the structure that is at fault - and it is beginning to be changed - and it is not in the purview of the vast majority of managers to change it?

This habit of scapegoating groups who cannot defend themselves must be happening for a reason - possibly because it's too much effort to actually address the difficulties. Alternatively, it could be that it avoids uncomfortable truths or it's just down to bias and prejudice.

It just all very sad and unlikely to change things for the better.

The Reform Group at KCC have trumpeted that they have uncovered a piece of financial fraud running to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
In fact, this was discovered by the previous Conservative regime, was prosecuted and taken to court in 2022.
And, also, LA councillors have no influence over the NHS; that is a matter for central government, as is " keeping the boats out " which was mentioned locally as something the Reform team would tackle once they took over county hall.
But, hey, let's not let facts interfere with rhetoric...

It's the Trump play book Chocolatelovinggran and sadly, we all know what comes next.

Chocolatelovinggran

The Reform Group at KCC have trumpeted that they have uncovered a piece of financial fraud running to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
In fact, this was discovered by the previous Conservative regime, was prosecuted and taken to court in 2022.
And, also, LA councillors have no influence over the NHS; that is a matter for central government, as is " keeping the boats out " which was mentioned locally as something the Reform team would tackle once they took over county hall.
But, hey, let's not let facts interfere with rhetoric...

Lies/misrepresentations that people them believe. .oh, 😡😡

Dickens, are you following the events in the USA? How much of medicare/medicaid will survive Trump's big bill?

67% of people in the States who file for bancruptcy say medical bills are the reason.

Maremia

Dickens, are you following the events in the USA? How much of medicare/medicaid will survive Trump's big bill?

According to Forbes...

“There will be NO CUTS to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social, claiming ^“the only ‘cutting’ we will do is for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse,” repeating the GOP’s narrative that the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” won’t directly reduce Medicaid spending—despite an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office that changes to the Medicaid program will ultimately leave more than 7.6 million people without benefits over the next 10 years.

Obviously the GOP and the Congressional BO disagree. Fraud is one thing - who decides tho' what is 'waste' or 'abuse'?

And, surely, there are in-built checks to counter fraud and abuse already?

67% of people in the States who file for bancruptcy say medical bills are the reason.

The American friend I mentioned above originally had a thriving business and a family home. And a comprehensive healthcare plan for the whole family.
Unfortunately, his son carried the bowel cancer gene, and his wife (my friend's wife) was later diagnosed with breast cancer.

I got to know my friend's wife (online) after he died from bowel cancer. The son (late teens) also died. The family were bankrupted, the business lost, and their home, too. The wife and remainder of the family ended up living in a small rented property paid for by local charity. And they were still lumbered with some medical bills.

If Farage is envisioning the American model of healthcare - is his antipathy to the EU so intense that he wouldn't consider the European model (?) - then I hope he gets hoist by his own petard eventually.

Private healthcare is fine if you have, for example, a simple sports injury, or similar, that requires a short-term / simple procedure or op, but for complex medical cases, it really isn't.

.. and, I've mentioned this before when the forum has discussed this issue - a friend of mine underwent a complicated and somewhat risky bowel surgery under the knife of an NHS surgeon, successfully. When she mused with the surgeon how this operation would've panned out under private healthcare, he told her that she probably would not have been offered it - apparently American surgeons often protect their reputation by refusing to do such risky surgery.

Food for thought, eh?

Ooooops! That's another one gone. This time it's Zia Yusef. What has happened?

I went over other thread, but my the DOGE initiative was but a week old, what a shower.

Mr Yusif was the chap put in charge of finding the " fraud and waste" in KCC...so maybe the new Reform will have to do something else - like hold meetings, perhaps?