There are only two ultimate public powers in shaping and running American cities: votes and control of the money. To sound nicer we may call these ‘public opinion’ and ‘disbursement of funds’ but they are still votes and money.

This is a quote from a book called 'The Death and Life of Great American Cities' by Jane Jacobs. If you haven't come across it before, it is worth a read, even though it was published in 1964, so is now over 40 years old. Her assessment of American city government in the 1950s and 1960s applies to us here in Wiltshire in 2007 too. The same things still count - money and votes, votes and money.

What Jane Jacobs didn’t say in this passage is why these count. The answer of course is power – which means power over our lives.

I'm old enough to remember the reorganisations in 1966 (creating the GLC), in 1974 (creating a Wiltshire in which Swindon was a district called Thamesdown), in 1994 (when Swindon became what is called a Unitary Authority) and lots of other smaller changes over the same period. I've completely lost track of all the changes in the Health Service.

Central government sold all of these changes on the basis that things would be more efficient. Have you seen it? I seem to recall the slight matter of millions of pounds overspend by the various PCTs, in turn causing huge cuts in services to vulnerable people by the County Council. Now it looks like we are on track for more changes in both local government and health. Wiltshire County Council and North Wiltshire District Council have both voted in favour of having a single council for Wiltshire. So why should we expect this time around to be any different? Does anyone really seriously expect it to cost less?

The government says it wants to save money. Will the Council Tax go down? Not b***** likely. Why do Wiltshire County Councillors vote in favour of a single council? – they think it will preserve them in power. Why do District Councillors object? – could that be something to do with the loss of power? Yes I know the turkeys of North Wiltshire have voted for Christmas but occasionally politicians actually act on what they say.

If the government says it wants to give you and yours more money, check your wallet. There is only one place more government money can come from - you. Remember that the next time you say 'They' should do something. It is unfashionable to say it, but there is only one way in which government can save money. Spend less.