The proposed reductions in public spending are right at the top end of the scenarios that had been considered by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. Steve Freer, Chief Executive of CIPFA expressed relief that there is now a clear set of proposals to rebalance public finances, but voiced the concern of the Institute that the Government is being very ambitious in attempting to tackle this challenge in a single Parliament.

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The Emergency Budget will bring cuts of 25 per cent in budgets and a two year pay freeze for the majority of public service workers. The Budget was preceded by the announcement of a review to examine the pay of public service managers and a commission to find ways to make pensions more affordable and sustainable. The effect of these developments will be to change the public service employment landscape beyond recognition.

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This programme is now available to view on localgov.tv the online television channel for public service modernisation. In the programme Shaun McCarthy, Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, explores the challenge of creating the greenest Olympics to date.

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