"There is undoubtedly fat to be trimmed from councils."
These were the words of local government minister Paul Scully during last week's Conservative Party Conference. They came as a surprise to some - particularly those who have worked in local government over the past decade or so.
The minister's comments at a conference fringe event appear to be paving the way for public service budget cuts from the government. New Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng have sparked economic turmoil with their budget plans and there fear is they will use cuts to public services to try and balance the books.
