to wonder what cuts YOU would make?

[jade80]

I keep reading threads about how a, b or c should not, under any circumstances have their funding cut. So, given that cuts have to be made because of ongoing overspending in recent decades, what would you, personally, choose to take the money away from?

Maybe everyone in government should be paid minimum wage?

Within local government, the overpaid and superfluous managers rather than the frontline staff who actually provide the services.

And the bankers, obviously. I don't care if they do all leave the country as a result.

military! do we really need an army? we could declare ourselves neutral like Switzerland and spend the money being good to ourselves like the Scandinavians.

well, my brother works in local governent and until recently- not sure now- this may have changed- they were not allowed to use 2nd class travel on trains they had to travel 1st class for meetings.
That's one change for sure.

In libraries I'd cut non essential services you can get elsewhere like coffee mornings

But Switzerland still has an army and navy etc. As do all Scandinavian countries.

Personally I cut out all the tiers of middle management in the NHS and go back to basics with Matrons controlling all the wards and budgets for them.

I'd make libraries buy and stock books and not DVDs or magazines.

i would cut the funding for the new council offices in my town planned for this year when all the boroughs are going to be amalgamated next year and our town wont even be the HQ anymore, hence a brand new building standing empty.

Naturally, I'd cut anything that doesn't affect me personally and I'd tax everyone with a bigger income than me a lot more..... simples

Cabbage - that's interesting!

Years ago I worked for a large govt dept in whitehall and they were very concerned that staff needing to be away and claiming hotel and meals did not take the piss in any way at all - and that's the right approach in my view.

yes, they have military but not as extensive and expensive as ours. we could save loads of money by cutting the military.

I used to work for the civil service - I was a temp there. I was astounded at how little work everyone did and they didn't even hide it. I'd cut down on those kind of office job staff, particularly managers.

Armed forces is another one that needs looking at.

I'm quite please ID cards got scrapped, that's pretty much the only cut I'm happy with. But really, we shouldn't be looking at how to save money, we should be looking at how to make it. And we're not going to make any in the long term if we sell off all our forests.

Typical blokes, never think ahead...

oh, and don't flame me but... the royal family

They've already made defence budget cuts though haven't they? And our forces are stretched as it is.

Or I may be talking out of a hole in my head!!

DH used to be allowed to travel first class on the train, as that way he'd be sure of a seat, where he could sit and work on his laptop (which was the clear expectation for how they would use their time on the train), as opposed to almost certainly not getting a seat, and therefore not being able to work.

Cut down on paperwork in Social Services.
Manage workloads better. I work with teenagers & see them after school but work 9-5 so can only see 1 a day. Another team is rushed during the day with preschoolers but done by 4pm

I would get rid of 10% of management in all councils.

Honestly- and don't flame me either. I would look at the benefits system to make sure the needy get but that it is not abused by a minority as at the moment.

Just to put in context I have a friend who claims £850 a month housing benefit on a luxury flat as apparently his business makes no money- 2 children at one of the most elite private schools which I know he pays for (it's

A business with a lot of cash). He went abroad at least 10 times last year on business trips including mark Warner!

I know that most propel on benefits really need them but the administration seems to be a nightmare and so complicated that people abuse it.

Cabbageroses - the revenue created from DVDs, CDs and talking books in libraries goes straight into buying books

Cut paperwork in schools= less SMT= more teaching time= less costs

More long term planning in SS. Cheaper to pay for support at home rather than long term residential care. Cheaper to fund 2 years therapy than 10 years secure accommodation. Sort families asap rather than waiting for crisis. All provide better outcomes for children

I wouldn't make cuts. I'd increase tax for the highest earners by 5%. And I'd invest in getting people back to work so that the benefit system was under less strain.

Also I'd freeze public sector pay for a year (and that would include my pay).

I'd cut whichever council dept it is that wastes so much money in patronising us sending out leaflets. For example at Christmas we got a smartly printed booklet posted to us to tell us to only buy as much food as we needed (ie count our guests before we went shopping) and one idea on how to cook leftovers. Goodness knows how much that cost to design, print and post to every household. Not to mention the fact that it no doubt ended up in everyone's recycling bins! (you know the ones they can't afford to empty).

Every time the council moans about the 'cuts' I just think well stop wasting money on such pointless rubbish then!

Trident.

Edinburgh Council likes to keep us informed via Pravda a newspaper to each home. I would stop that and save £300k per year.