How cuts could derail local government’s devo max dream | Jane Dudman
One advantage of having a budget in the summer is that it falls in the conference season of those who run public services. This gives a chance to check the impact of the chancellor's plans in the real world. And the first of those checks comes on the journey to the local authority conference: it takes a mere two hours and 10 minutes by train to travel the 200 miles from London to Leeds, at a speedy 92mph. But there's a sudden change of pace when you change trains: the final 15 miles from Leeds to Harrogate take 35 minutes on a train that goes a steady 26mph.
It's a reminder of why northern councils were furious when, just weeks after the election and bold talk of a northern powerhouse, the chancellor George Osborne took another look at Network Rail's books and froze the plans for vital upgrades to major rail lines in the Midlands and the north of England. After the promises, northern councils felt they were once again fighting over the crumbs - a mere 14% of transport infrastructure spending is outside London and the south-east.
Related: Devolution means local government can afford to be more ambitious | Bob Kerslake
Related: Revealed: how the stress of working in public services is taking its toll on staff | Society
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