To return to the original thread title, this is an excellent opportunity for councils to get rid of pointless non-jobs which seem to have proliferated under the last bunch - especially, but not exclusively in the field of HR. Unfortunately many councils will axe much-needed frontline services in a point-scoring exercise whilst retaining their non-jobs and paying their managers eye-watering salaries that most of us can only dream about. The public will make their feelings known to Gov't more readily if a library is closed down rather than 'outreach workers' or 'walking co-ordinators' losing their jobs.