Reform UK Targets Northamptonshire Council Finances
The proposed audits have sparked concerns among union leaders, who argue that councils have already made significant cuts and have limited room for further reductions. The outcome of the auditing process is likely to have significant implications for local councils and their employees, particularly in Northamptonshire.
Union leaders are warning Reform UK's "DOGE unit" that scrutinizing local council finances, including those in Northamptonshire, will be met with resistance, particularly if the team suggests sacking staff. The DOGE unit aims to identify areas of waste and inefficiency, modeled after Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in the US.
The council has already made significant cuts during the austerity period, leaving little room for further reductions, according to union leaders. They point out that any attempts to cut jobs or services will be met with a strong reaction from unions. However, the council's new Reform leader, Stephen Atkinson, has stated that the DOGE unit will focus on reinvesting in frontline services rather than reducing them.
Reform UK's Charles Hansard has vowed to audit local council finances, including those in Somerset, if the party is elected in 2027, promising to "expose" the council's "profligate waste of money". The council has faced a significant budget gap and has cut hundreds of jobs, but has also announced plans to spend millions on consultants to advise on pay structures. Hansard claims the council has the internal expertise to resolve its issues without external help.
The auditing process is expected to reveal years of waste, according to Hansard, and union leaders are preparing for a strong reaction to any proposed cuts. The situation is being closely watched in Northamptonshire, where local councils are facing similar financial challenges and may be subject to similar audits in the future.