Local government has had to make radical changes in the last four years to cope with austerity finances, and the adaptation of a shrinking workforce has proved no exception, writes Jack Airey

W hile the promises made by the trade union Unite’s leader, Len McCluskey, to fight any future cuts after May next year are all well and good, the reality is that come the publication of the Autumn Statement on 3rd December, a future wave of reductions to the budgets of public services is all but inevitable.

Indeed, David Cameron’s warning that ‘the red lights are flashing’ for the global economy will only reinforce this rhetoric. In this era of austerity – as will be abundantly clear to all readers, I am sure – local government has radically changed in this Parliament, and will continue to do so.