Council next to get visit from Reform cost-cutters

Team modelled on Musk concept

- BY PAUL FAULKNER

LANCASHIRE County Council is next on the list to get a visit from a Reform UK team that has modelled itself on Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the United States.

The party revealed on Sunday (June 1) that the self-styled spend-slashing group made up of “software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors” - would be visiting all ten of the county councils Reform now controls.

Kent was announced as the first in line, but on Monday evening (June 2), party chair Zia Yusuf declared on X that Lancashire and West Northamptonshire were to follow.

Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that he was “looking forward to welcoming the DOGE team” to what is the second largest of the local authorities now run by Reform following last month's local elections.

He added: “Residents gave us an overwhelming mandate to root out waste and reinvest in frontline local services.

“I'm excited to see how this unit can deliver for the people of Lancashire.”

However, some opposition groups at County Hall have questioned the premise and purpose of the DOGE team - and also expressed concern over the potential cost to the public purse of its activity.

Reform has told the LDRS that the work is being undertaken “pro bono” - free of charge - and so will not be a drain on the council budgets that the party suggests are ripe for savings.

No date has been given for DOGE’s work to begin in Lancashire.