The chief executive tells the senior management team each directorate is to submit proposals for 5% budget cuts, without exceptions, looking directly at the directors of children's and adults social services. We are supposed to think 5% isn't so bad as we were asked to draw up proposals for 3%, 5% and 8%. But of course this comes on top of year on year cuts. To use one of the chief executive's favourite sayings: ‘You've given me all the low hanging fruit now it's time for the difficult stuff.' 

The chief executive expects everyone to demonstrate their corporate credentials. The pain is to be shared equally, with ‘no special pleading', again looking directly at social services. But social services and social work is a special case.