Council reminds me of Yes Minister

Sir, – I have just received a masterclass on November 7 by the social services department of Perth and Kinross Council at a public meeting at Blairgowrie Community Centre.

On next year’s spending budget cuts, three members of the above department gave a talk about how social services should have all P&K Council money spent on them. It was quite obvious they had all served with Sir Humphrey Appleby of Yes Minster fame.

When trying to put forward other areas of expenditure we were told it was going to be cut. I argued for road verges cutting especially on bends/ junctions on safety, but was told verge cutting was to be cut! When further questioned it turned out that the central government grant for roads repair/ verge cutting/winter snow clearing and gritting will be the same next year.

But as last winter’s 2021-22 budget, it was hardly used (10-14 days because of mild weather) – £9m was not used and therefore transferred into this year’s reserve budget pot that could be accessed by social services.

It was very much a meeting that was set up so that at the end you were asked to vote for what was most important – child poverty, child care, female welfare, social services.

It is nice to know that the department of administrative affairs exists in Perth and Kinross Council.

Bernard Noonan.

Reed Lagan Dhu,

Blairgowrie.

Yes Minister continues to show its political relevance.