The hit list

I can’t say I was shocked that the fee for my annual residential parking permit had risen, but I was surprised by how much. It’s nearly doubled – from £35 to £60. Short of getting rid of the car or doing what many other people in my road have done – concreting over the front garden and parking it there – there’s not much to be done other than pay up.

More surprising is that this measure of boosting the town hall coffers wasn’t included in a recently published list of 100 ways to cut council tax without cutting key services, produced by the Conservative-run Hammersmith & Fulham council.

The list makes interesting reading. Some of it is plain common sense – from using low-energy light bulbs in council buildings to banning mineral water in favour of tap water at council meetings, a measure that Hammersmith & Fulham claims saves it £36,000 a year.

Other proposals are more contentious. They might not directly affect key services but they certainly suggest a hefty reduction in headcount. Top of the list is a simple freeze in recruitment but further down you’ll find recommendations to scrap political advisers, to get rid of the council’s press office, to stop spending money on management consultants, to keep the number of staff engaged in health and safety enforcement to the statutory minimum, and to cease employing work experience co-ordinators and European officers.

The list also makes clear that what Hammersmith & Fulham consider a ‘key service’ is not universally agreed. It recommends that councils should not be running youth clubs and children’s playgroups, for example. ‘Better value for less money can be achieved through funding this much needed resource via the voluntary sector and church groups,’ it says.

Scrapping all art subsidies and reducing staff training to the statutory minimum don’t strike me as being particularly enlightened practices either. But if you’re looking for the main reason why this list hasn’t been more widely promoted by local government organisations, scroll down to number 28. ‘Cancel your annual subscription to the Local Government Association,’ it says. Apparently it costs the council nearly £50,000 a year, which puts my £60 fee for on-street parking in a rather different light.

Download the full list of Hammersmith and Fulham council's proposed cost cuts.