It is desperate up there. I did some consultancy work at Redcar and Cleveland council back in the day, I think 'boro were in the Prem and struggling, but it was the only talking point in the office.
Not long after that, I spent 1 month in Runcorn and that was really dire. Two guys working there, one opened one envelope a day with a computer tape. The other guy would load the tape. Job done, chat for 2-3 hours, long pub lunch and finished at 3pm. I asked them what happens if one of them go on leave