Following recent local elections, Reform UK has begun implementing a programme known as DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) across the councils it now controls. The initiative is focused on reviewing local authority spending, increasing transparency, and identifying waste so that public money is directed towards services that genuinely benefit residents.
This article explains what DOGE is, how it operates, and what councils and residents can expect.
A Clear Electoral Mandate
Reform UK was elected to local government with an explicit commitment to scrutinise council finances and reduce wasteful spending. In several authorities, this mandate resulted in outright control of the council, giving Reform UK the ability to act directly on those commitments.
DOGE is the mechanism through which that pledge is being delivered. The programme is designed to complement existing council audit processes by applying specialist skills and modern analytical tools to complex spending data.
Leadership and Expertise
The DOGE programme is led by Zia Yusuf and delivered by a team of professional software engineers, data analysts, and forensic auditors.
Rather than relying solely on traditional audit methods, the team uses:
Advanced data analysis
Artificial intelligence tools
Forensic accounting techniques
These approaches are intended to identify patterns of inefficiency, waste, or potential misuse of public funds that may not be immediately visible through standard financial reviews.
Initial Council Engagements
The team’s first visit was to Kent County Council, the largest local authority in the UK. This was followed by engagement with West Northamptonshire Council.
In both cases, the DOGE team met with council leadership, chief executives, and senior officers. These meetings focused on collaboration, access to data, and ensuring the work aligns fully with each council’s governance, legal responsibilities, and operational realities.
Collaborative and Pro-Bono by Design
A defining feature of DOGE is that it operates on a pro-bono basis. This means:
There is no cost to local taxpayers
No council budget is diverted to fund the work
The arrangement mirrors that of an external contractor, but without fees
Many Reform-controlled councils already have internal value-for-money or efficiency programmes underway. DOGE is intended to supplement these efforts by adding specialist technical capability, not to replace existing officers or statutory audit functions.
A Deliberately Low-Profile, Professional Approach
It is also important to be clear about what DOGE is not.
This is not a publicity-led initiative, nor is it designed to produce a constant stream of announcements, headlines, or adversarial “hit jobs”. The majority of DOGE’s work will take place quietly in the background, analysing complex datasets, testing assumptions, and working constructively with council officers who are already committed to delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
Across local government, many senior officers share the same objectives as elected members: efficient services, robust governance, and public trust. DOGE is designed to support that shared goal — not to undermine it.
Where significant findings emerge, they will be reported through proper channels and considered by council administrations. However, residents should not expect a running commentary or performative press campaign. This is a serious, technical exercise focused on outcomes rather than optics.
Why DOGE Was Considered Necessary
Supporters of the programme argue that the scale of waste already identified in some councils demonstrates the need for deeper scrutiny. For example, previously disclosed figures from Kent County Council include:
A £350 million recruitment services contract tendered over four years — equivalent to around 22% of the council’s annual payroll
£2.8 million of confirmed fraud recorded in the most recent year
DOGE’s role is to analyse spending data in detail and produce evidence-based recommendations that elected councillors can then consider and, where appropriate, act upon.
What the DOGE Team Does
In practical terms, the DOGE programme aims to:
Audit council spending to improve transparency
Identify inefficient or wasteful expenditure
Recommend lawful, practical cost-saving measures
Help redirect resources towards frontline services
Final decisions remain with elected councillors, who are accountable to residents for determining which recommendations to implement.
Data Protection and Confidentiality
Given the sensitivity of local authority data, strict safeguards are in place:
Each council enters into a formal Data Sharing Agreement with the DOGE team
Data use is limited strictly to audit and analysis purposes
Where possible, pseudonymisation is used, replacing personal identifiers with coded references
Governance standards mirror those used when councils appoint third-party auditors or consultants
These measures are designed to ensure full compliance with data protection law and council requirements.
What Happens Next?
The DOGE team will visit and analyse every Reform UK-controlled council. The programme began with Kent and will be rolled out across all twelve authorities under Reform control in due course.
As reports are completed, findings and recommendations will be presented to council administrations, who will decide how best to act in the interests of local residents.
In Summary
DOGE represents Reform UK’s approach to delivering on its promise to cut waste and improve value for money in local government. By combining a clear electoral mandate, specialist expertise, a collaborative delivery model, and a deliberately low-profile approach, the programme aims to demonstrate how technology-led scrutiny can be applied at council level.
Its success will not be measured by headlines, but by better use of public funds, reduced waste, and more money directed to frontline services — quietly, professionally, and in the interests of residents.