Is 'Doge' a Dangerous Move? Opposition Raises Concerns Over Lancashire Council's Review Process

Plans by Reform UK to introduce a team called the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to assess the operations of Lancashire County Council have sparked significant concern from opposition members. The Doge team, which is already active in other local authorities managed by Reform since the recent elections, is set to scrutinize council operations, raising fears about data access and GDPR compliance. Local councillors, particularly Independent leader Azhar Ali, have voiced skepticism, referring to the initiative as ‘dodgy’ and questioning its structure and purpose. Ali plans to meet with the council’s chief executive, Mark Wynn, to address these issues.<br><br>Deputy Leader Simon Evans insists that the findings will be shared in partnership with the council, although no timeline for the Doge team’s arrival at County Hall has been set, prompting frustration from other leaders like Conservative Aidy Riggott, who finds the lack of communication concerning. While Riggott acknowledges the potential for the Doge team to find inefficiencies, he remains doubtful about uncovering any major issues. Conversely, Evans claims the initiative exposes significant fiscal mismanagement, citing £500m in government bonds that are now valued at only £120m.<br><br>Concerns from the Labour group leader Mark Clifford echo the sentiments of Ali, questioning the safeguarding of sensitive data handled by the Doge team. Despite assurances that the process aims to identify waste rather than impose cuts, critics argue that existing councillors could conduct these reviews without the need for external teams. Controversy continues as the council navigates the implications of this ‘Doge’ initiative, with calls for clarity on how these operations will align with local governance and accountability.