Following the Government's policy statement ahead of next week's Finance Statement, local government minister Lee Rowley says he has listened to councils and understands the challenges they face

I had the privilege to serve as a local councillor for nearly a decade. Every day, I saw the key role that local Government plays in supporting communities, providing services and changing lives. Councils are the bedrock of our democracy and, whilst ever I am the minister for local government, I will always be an advocate of what they are able to achieve.