Conservative leader David Cameron has backed a bill designed to give councils more control over how they spend their money.

The Tory boss said his party would table the sustainable communities bill as a private member's bill in Parliament next week, after the Queen's Speech. The bill has been drawn up by the Conservatives and lobby group Local Works and it aims to give to councils the power to draw up their own alternative local spending plans. Central government would still retain control of spending on benefits, education, healthcare and infrastructure, but all other areas would be determined by the local plans.