CNJ COMMENT - Humanity is lost in the budget balance sheet

Published: 16 June, 2011

IS there a link between the council’s policies on libraries and the meals-on-wheels service?

On the surface, there does not appear to be a linking thread.

But, essentially, both policies have been built around certain concepts   of human behaviour, expectations and sensibilities.

On libraries, many Labour councillors believe individual members of the community have enough burning commitment and time on their hands to be able to run libraries themselves.

Either the councillors have woefully failed to think this through or they have a picture of human beings few others share.

Because of this, they have simply succeeded in leaving the whole idea up in the air.

To the point where opposition councillors are able to run rings around it (see page 3). They say the DIY library policy breaks council policy. 

It does more than that – it breaches every semblance of common-sense. 

To expect volunteers to get together and run a library with all the attendant administrative duties and responsibilities involved is stretching the Big Society idea to a point which would probably surprise the Prime Minister.

Looking down the   wrong end of a telescope, councillors and officials are equally forming the wrong ideas about the service of meals-on-wheels.

Here, they have concentrated their calculations on one thing only – how much money they can save.

But here something is being missed out: the human element.

In short, what would be the effect on old people if, for example, they are no longer able to have the delivery of a meal to their  home?

The meal does not just provide essential nutriments – it also provides a human link with the outside, a link that is cherished by old people living on their own.

It provides human contact, a warmth that can help to light up the  day. You cannot put a price on that. 

Perhaps you cannot expect officials and accountants to think about it like that. You will not find it in the lexicon of accountants.

But sensitive and far-thinking councillors should see it. They should be the closest to the people. 

If they cannot, they have lost their way – and can become casualties in the electoral cycle.