Cleaner, greener, meaner?

That's the ambition of Worcester City Council as it gears up for the annual budget process.

And although their ambition is highly laudable, one has to wonder what will have to be sacrificed to pay for this.

In setting out the council stall, the Tory group leader, Stephen Inman, says that this is the first time his administration has been in complete control of the process, previous budgets being within a "hung" environment.

At last, they say, they have the power to support the will to "make a difference".

But what is becoming apparent is that what they are really talking about is getting a grip on the situation. Reserves have been allowed to dwindle over recent years and this has now got to the state when there is a serious concern that they would not be able to run the city properly.

The options for savings in the short and medium term appear limited. The city fathers have decided that staff will not be replaced quite as quickly, buildings will not be maintained quite as often, and departments will be asked to look at all spending more often.

It all adds up to what is likely to be a frugal 18 months.

And what if it works...well, the long-term future of the council finances will be secure and many other projects will be able to progress happily. The city will be a tourist mecca and a thriving, prosperous place to live, work and shop.

And what if it does not...A spiral of further cuts and severe pain in many areas that will, undoubtedly, have a negative effect on the city.

Let's hope that this action is enough and in time.

Then maybe adding "meaner" to the phrase we started with will actually be seen as a good idea.