Budget cuts are, understandably, dominating the headlines. And, for most parts of the public sector, these are largely being addressed through various efficiency measures.

So, in this article I'm focusing on what I term ‘beyond efficiency' – that is, looking at the decisions politicians will have to take, sooner rather than later. I have been arguing in this column for a number of years about the need for local government to be ahead of the curve in terms of gradually reducing spending. In West Lancashire, we've taken this course of action, and it has enabled us, given the current situation, to make a ‘softer landing' than many other councils.