It's that time of year when we try to second-guess the Spending Review in the vain hope local government might see the merest morsel of additional funding to help cope with the onslaught.

Using any insight to confirm our very unstable assumptions in our budget plans is a key skill which is being sorely tested on the basis that the normal amount of leaks and titbits from Government sources are not happening. Our budget balancing plans have taken on a new urgency as we try to ensure there are delivery plans against savings targets which will result in a reduction of budget.