More than half a million for external memberships raises eyebrows. It’s hard to tell which is a valid membership, what is really a grant and what is plain charity to “nice people”.

I asked the question last year whether we’d be prepared to go line by line, with one hand on our heart, and rank a membership as:

1. Essential
2. Nice to Have
3. Not Essential

I do recall last year that is was said in the Chamber a rigorous review of each would take place. I note this year that memberships have grown!

I guess it’s just hard to say “No” particularly when we are “invited” and harder to cancel a membership when it’s run by “nice people”.

I remember an old manager of mine would call me in and say he’d want me to cut 10% of something and have the answer on his desk by the morning. I fussed and complained and always found it was possible.

If we had to tighten our belts we’d find plenty to cut. Pity that’s not our default attitude to ratepayer money.