Reform plans major County Hall finance review

By Ged Henderson

05 Jun 2025

Lancashire County Council County Hall

A proposal to review the finances of Lancashire County Council is being brought before a meeting of its cabinet this week.

The item, which is being brought by Reform UK’s council leader Stephen Atkinson as a matter of ‘urgent business’, will seek to gain cabinet's approval start the review into finance and procurement arrangements.

The proposal comes amid reports that the local authority is to be scrutinised by a team from Reform UK which has modelled itself on Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) - launched in the US by the Trump administration.

According to the reports, Reform UK has said the work will be carried out free of charge. Kent County Council has been named as its first port of call.

Announcing  the Lancashire financial review proposal, Cllr Atkinson said: “As part of our election campaign, Reform UK were clear that we intended to open up the books of the county council to scrutiny to ensure taxpayers are getting good value for money.

“It is important that we continue to work collaboratively with our officers to look at the efficiencies that can be achieved and we are committed to doing this as the new cabinet in accordance with our responsibilities in relation to value for money.

“Since forming the council’s new political administration, we have been working closely with senior officers, building good relationships and meeting regularly as we start to shape our future priorities for communities across Lancashire.

“Working with officers we are confident we can deliver savings and have already started some preliminary analysis since taking control of the council a month ago.

“We have been clear that we will be focusing our policies on what is most important to residents so we can make a real difference.

“Ensuring we have a good understanding of the council’s spending through this review will have benefits for residents.”

The Reform UK team is said to be made up of software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors and is planning to scrutinise local authorities where it is now the ruling party.

Reform says that the unit will use artificial intelligence, advanced data analysis tools and forensic auditing techniques to “identify wasteful spending and recommend actionable solutions”.

Speaking in March, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told supporters: “We need a British form of DOGE, as Elon Musk has got in America. Let’s have a British DOGE.”

The advisory body, headed by Tesla boss Elon Musk until the end of May, was created by an executive order signed by President Trump and given a remit to slash federal government funding.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

Transformation takes off for aerospace engineers after Made Smarter supports investment Work at Airframe Designs

Transformation takes off for aerospace engineers after Made Smarter supports investment

12 Jun 2025

2

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses new Parlick cheese brand gets listing at M&S Food Parlick range by Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses new Parlick cheese brand gets listing at M&S Food

12 Jun 2025

3

University of Cumbria and BAE Systems launch flagship scholarship BAE Systems scholarship

University of Cumbria and BAE Systems launch flagship scholarship

11 Jun 2025

4

College restaurant honoured with top culinary award from prestigious chefs’ guild Karen Lilley Front Of House Lecturer David McKown David Lyon Scholars Manager And Blackburn College Principal Dr Fazal Dad

College restaurant honoured with top culinary award from prestigious chefs’ guild

10 Jun 2025

5

Cosmetic manufacturer lets new unit on Frontier Park, Burnley Badgequo have agreed to let the site on Frontier Park

Cosmetic manufacturer lets new unit on Frontier Park, Burnley

10 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College Industry Hub, Burnley, BB120AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Midnight Oil: The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Scaling Strategies with Brad Waldron
BU-June-Event-BRAD-1.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Jun 2025 - 18 Jun 2025

Midnight Oil: The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Scaling Strategies with Brad Waldron

Blackpool Football Club, Bloomfield Rd, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ

08:30 - 11:30

Chamber Business Lunch – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – June

Lancaster House Hotel, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4GL

11:00 - 13:30

90 day Business Planning Workshop
LBV Event Header.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

90 day Business Planning Workshop

Bolton Arena, Arena Approach, Horwich, BL6 6LB

09:00 - 16:30

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025
MMW.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Fundraisers
21 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025

St Catherine's Hospice, Preston, PR5 5XU

18:00 - 23:00

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
23 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025

FGH Training 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park,, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin