We’ve all read those stories about scandalous wastage of taxpayer cash in councils. From hideous woke artwork through to insane local authority ‘re-brands’ – millions of pounds have been plundered. All the while, bin collections are reducing and potholes are getting ever deeper as council taxes soar.

Reform UK have recently taken the helm at 10 local authorities and now have a remarkable chance to show the country exactly how they perform when in power. It’s an opportunity that must not be squandered. As such, it’s reported today that Nigel Farage’s first DOGE unit is set to spring into action.

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For those unfamiliar with what this term actually means – it’s a concept swiped from his former pal Elon Musk. It stands for Department of Government Efficiency and was – up until a few days ago – fronted by the billionaire Tesla boss to slash government spending and waste. Farge’s version is a team of software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors who will visit each of its councils – starting with Kent today.

Reform party chairman Zia Yusuf said: “For too long, British taxpayers have watched their money vanish into a black hole. Their taxes keep going up, their bin collections keep getting less frequent, potholes remain unfixed, their local services keep getting cut.”

I couldn’t put that better myself. I wish them luck on their mission and I hope they do find millions stashed away in town hall lofts. But don’t bank on it…

I have been a Conservative councillor since 2019 – and was deputy mayor of Middlesbrough for a few of those years. After an independent wave of councillors wrestled control of the council from Labour and set up an unofficial coalition with us Tories, saving cash was our first priority. However, it proved far more difficult than you can possibly imagine.

By far and away the biggest barrier to slashing spending was the absolutely behemoth Children’s Services spend – something that is still pushing councils across the country to the brink of bankruptcy. The department is a statutory must for a local authority – and not one that councils can easily shave back.

For a time, I was the councillor responsible for the department. Some of what I found out then is forever etched in my mind, so shocking are the figures involved. Every time I recount them, I have to check and triple-check that I’m not mistaken, such is the appalling nature of the amount of money changing hands.

The department’s highest costs originate from ‘external placements’. Put very simply, this is when the council doesn’t have the resources or provisions to look after a child who’s been put into care – for example, the right kind of children’s home or foster carer – and they are therefore placed into private children’s homes. I recall with horror being told that we were quoted an eye-popping £33,000 to look after one child: For. One. Week. The average price was obviously much lower than that – a mere snip at around £6,000 per week, per child.

So in short folks: that’s where all your money is going. However, fixing this is not something that can be easily solved. It will require answers from central government. Just a couple of weeks ago the Local Government Association pleaded with the Government for more help.

What are the solutions? Perhaps reversing the trend of shutting down council-owned children’s homes and bringing more care back in house. Another answer is to dramatically increase the number of foster carers by paying them the money that they deserve. Currently, they’re leaving councils in their droves as private agencies promise hugely increased wages – that, unbelievably, local councils then are forced to use. Talk about a right old mess.

So yes, I do wish Nigel’s DOGE unit the very best of luck. It’s been a long time coming for local councils. Finding a solution to the Children’s Services conundrum, however, is certainly no quick fix, as Governments blue and red have grappled with these scandalous costs for years. Over to you Nigel