I saw little difference to a local authority in the number of policies and procedures, the record keeping, monitoring of budgets and the impact funding cuts were having on services.
"But at the same time, the payroll has to get done, there has to be good monitoring of budgets, they have to hire people in a caring way and they should be doing a lot more centrally in terms of curriculum".
The Greek crisis has led to new agreements over increased European monitoring of national budgets and a guarantees-and-bonds system of more than €750 billion in value.
The European Commission, meanwhile, is pressing ahead with plans for close monitoring of members' budgets and economies, with punishments for those that do not follow its therapy.
In a bid to de-politicise what is naturally a political area (the setting and monitoring of government budgets, no less), the chancellor has failed – thanks to his willingness to cock a snook at the old brigade.
The European Commission this week offered some ideas, from more intrusive and early collective monitoring of national budgets to an incentive system where profligacy is punished by withholding EU funds.
A sensible plan for euro-zone members to jointly issue bonds — championed by Mr. Hollande and the International Monetary Fund — would be coupled with a mechanism for strict monitoring of sovereign budgets.
That is why, in practice, the EFSF could probably support Spain or perhaps even Italy, but not both.Debtor, save yourselfThe new weapons for the euro zone come with a political price: closer monitoring of national budgets and economic policies, particularly in the case of states that need the greatest help.
To make a difference, the various policies which are being planned to better coordinate the monitoring of national budgets by other euro zone governments and Brussels "will need to be made more binding and relevant for national decision making," the report said.
Identification of priorities has to begin at the grassroots, with district-level monitoring of adherence to budget ceilings as well as to national policy requirements on core issues.
