A “new” programme to deliver a programme – only our Government!

As we are well and truly feeling the impact of the coalition’s spending freezes in the public sector it is worth reflecting on the supposed reasoning for the cuts. Yes it is pretty obvious to everyone that if you stop a huge government programme then you will save money in the short term. However should that be our only concern?

I, like I am sure many of you, have had a terrible experience with the new coalition. Lots of culling of contractors and rate reductions have made me slightly bitter. Hence my forthcoming opinions……..

The “Spreadsheet”

I imagine that it must have taken a steering committee months to come up with the notion:
Deleting a line on a spreadsheet = millions of pounds saved.
However what is the impact of the said deletion?

The taxpayer has spent billions on programmes that were designed to create efficiency savings and to improve citizen’s experiences of public services. Why then, is it OK to cease the funding for these programmes before we have had the chance to see the benefits and take advantage of them?

To make matters worse the projects and programmes that have been cut are starting to be replaced by other “similar” initiatives to achieve largely the same outcomes. So we have already begun to create programmes to replace programmes, however critically, they appear on a different line of the spreadsheet!! Perfect!

The solution

So the reason for the cuts is to save money, right? What do the powers that be decide is the best way to do this? You’ve guessed it create a new “crack team” of efficiency saving experts…..and just who will be paying for that??

I do, of course, understand the need for rationalisation however there needs to be careful consideration about what is efficiency saving and what is genuine cost cutting.

Please give me your thoughts, ideas and rants on this subject.