Mr. Frank Curran:

Yes, more staff would be required. There is difficulty, as the Deputy knows, in recruitment and retention. However, I could not see staff moving. I think more staff would be required because of the extra responsibilities.

On budgeting, I presume chief executives would still be the Accounting Officers. We have responsibility for budgetary control as it is. Even in the current set-up, we just advise. We always prepare a balanced budget but, ultimately, it is the councillors and elected members who decide on the budget and how it is to be divided up. I think that is it.