Leaders: Efficient spending can still save us from the rocky roads to ruin

But the present austerity, set to run for years ahead, is already beginning to share its bleak and depressing characteristics. It is being felt not only in private and public sector budgets, but in the deterioration of our infrastructure and public space. High streets come to look ever more run down as shops close or are boarded up. Buildings come to look shabbier. And even in vital areas such as the road network and our hospitals, the signs of an intensifying financial squeeze are growing. Austerity 2012 and beyond is manifesting itself in growing problems over the state of Scotland’s pothole-ridden roads, while some £1 billion of repairs are now needed to make good the state of the country’s hospitals.

Such is the extent of our road network and the size of the NHS estate that maintenance of assets to an acceptable standard of public safety and acceptability is now among the biggest items of public expenditure. Indeed the distinction between what is current expenditure and what is capital spending begins to blur. Without an effective repair and maintenance system, Scotland is in danger of facing a massive capital spending bill in the years ahead as key infrastrure needs to be replaced. Equally, however, prompt and efficient current spending now can have a capital spend effect – and at much lower cost. This is why road maintenance and hospital repairs cannot be allowed to slip. Left unattended, the problems compound and the financial outlay to put them right becomes ever more daunting.

The Scottish Road Maintenance Condition survey published what it called “deeply concerning” figures yesterday, with a maintenance backlog for local authority roads alone estimated by Audit Scotland at £1.54 billion. CBI chief Iain Macmillan has described their condition in parts as no better than those in “Third World countries”. Two elements have come together to present councils with this problem. The first was the severe winter weather last year, which caused widespread surface damage and potholing. More than a third of roads run by local authorities failed to be classed as being in good condition. The second is the financial squeeze that has put pressure on council staff and budgets as economies are made and corners cut. Road maintenance is one of the most vital responsibilities of local government and has to be maintained in the category of priority action.

Similar problems confront hospitals and other NHS buildings in Scotland, now struggling with a £1bn bill for repairs going back several years. The government-published State of the Estate warns a maintenance backlog has left some buildings in poor condition. Ever-expanding health facilities bring with them ever-rising maintenance and upkeep bills. For these to be met in the long run and rising public expecations met, Scottish health service reform cannot be ignored.

Glasgow council changes well overdue

THIS week’s breakdown of discipline within the ruling Labour group on Glasgow City Council may be viewed as little more than rebellious sour grapes by councillors who have been de-selected by their local party organisations ahead of the local elections in May. But it is far greater in implication and effect. The grip the party has enjoyed for decades over Scotland’s largest local authority is disintegrating. It had to struggle last week to secure the passage of its own budget. Now there is every prospect of a poor performance in the May elections and control passing to the SNP – a remarkable turnaround.

But the city’s governance has been in need of radical change for some time, and it has taken a situation such as this to bring matters to a head. The events of this week can only reinforce a growing view that the city is in acute need of change. Labour control may have brought improvement in some areas, but others have proved stubbornly resistant to anything other than deterioration – much of it the product of mistakes made 30 to 40 years ago.

The party is basing its case for a fresh mandate on its ambition to bring about a transformation. But transformation from what? Whatever the city’s current condition, responsibility is almost entirely that of the Labour Party. As a shopping destination, Glasgow took advantage of a massive expansion in private wealth, but, ironically, the boldest decision was to hand over control of housing to a new association. Sometimes change has to happen for its own sake, and new and younger faces may not prove sufficient to reverse the decline in Labour’s fortunes.

Final descent of all our hopes as Nasa bars Mars

A TELLING on man’s ability to reach the final frontier? A mere glitch until a technological breakthrough enables us to launch manned missions to other planets? Or proof that it is beancounters who rule not just the Earth, but the exploration of space?

Nasa is believed to be poised to announce major cuts in its exploration of other planets, particularly Mars. Under budget plans due for release next week, the space agency that once captured the imaginations of millions round the world is believed to be cutting some $300 million from its $1.5 billion planetary science budget. The current Mars budget is $582m. This is set to be cut by more than $200m. Putting a man on Mars is a much more challenging logistical proposition to the Apollo moon expeditions, as the distances are vast and the problems of providing just the oxygen needed to sustain such a flight (and back) are colossal. A repeat of the Apollo achievements in a successful Mars orbit is now likely to be enjoyed by another generation. As with the discovery and exploration of large parts of Earth, this was no linear progression but came about in leaps and bounds. For the moment it’s the beancounters who have set the bounds on those impatient for the next leap. But by then, might it be America, or China which will then be the space leader?