THEY are cutting day centres and they are looking for more drastic savings because, in their words, ‘no change is not an option’.

They have to find savings of £90million over the next three to four years and it’s not their fault because the budget deficit is to blame.

I’m talking here about Bucks County Council who were mentioned in this column last week for using the stomach-churning ‘no change is not an option’ cliché in their message to taxpayers regarding day centres.

Well, today I’ve decided to officially throw it back on them.

We revealed in September that £35million annual savings were identified a few years ago by merging Bucks’ councils together into one single authority.

But the idea was dropped. And although some of these savings have been made down the years via efficiencies, this was clearly a golden opportunity spurned.

Now, in the light of the massive budget problems, two ex-mayors – Gary Hall of Risborough and Paul Henry of Beaconsfield – have come forward to press the case again.

Paul says: “They are duplicating offices, doing all the same thing.

For example, finance officers – why have two when you can have one?”

My sentiments exactly, but we’re told that other senior councillors say this amalgamation, or unitary authority as they call it, is not presently possible because it would cost millions to adapt the system.

As Paul puts it, asking councils and councillors to scrap themselves is like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas. But there has to be a way when so much money can be saved.

I am positive that if these local authorities carried out one of their wonderful consultations, the public would surely vote in favour of scrapping councils as opposed to day centres. That’s why I’ve put a consultation form, in this column inside Midweek asking you to vote for scrapping them.

There are five main councils around here – Wycombe, South Bucks, Chiltern and Aylesbury Vale districts, along with the county. Ultimately there should perhaps only be one, backed up by the smaller existing local parish councils. Alternatively, you could keep the districts and scrap the county. If that works better then fine, but something has to happen.

For did I mention councillors – when it comes to keeping all of you and your monolithic costly structures intact, no change is not an option.