IS it time to accept that local government is broken?

In the past few weeks I have read that Warrington, Halton, Cheshire east and Cheshire West councils are tens of millions of pounds in debt.

None can balance the books. Some, without reserves may go bust.

It may well be, as some commentators say, that they are run poorly by people who don’t know what they are doing.

Some politicians enjoy finger pointing and name calling.

But is it not more likely that the system is broken?

Social care costs are through the roof. They will only go up when private companies put up their costs to mitigate minimum wage and national insurance rises.

So what can be done? Time for a national body to take over social care? Well look how much money the NHS wastes.

It is serious conversations for serious people but who will start them?

RAY PIERCE

Appleton