: Budget cuts: There has to be a better way

Local blogger Alan-a-Dale has a go at Nottinghamshire County Council's "Big Budget Conversation" and wonders if something is missing.

"We're a rich nation. We are currently spending around £5bn a year on a pointless war in Afghanistan; there are over 500,000 millionaires in the UK (23 of whom are in David Cameron's cabinet); RBS paid over 100 of its staff a bonus of at least £1m each last year and tax avoidance and evasion (mainly by the rich) costs the country over £15bn a year (as opposed to around £1bn in benefit fraud).

"And yet here we are considering whether to close day centres, leave kids in care, sack lollipop ladies or not repair leaking school roofs."