Councils have been warned to brace themselves to budget for pay hikes as inflation rapidly outstrips the planned increases.

But did they really need the warning? You only have to look at the headlines every day to see the rising cost of living to know that a 1.75% rise – as was awarded last year – amounts to a substantial pay cut for council staff. It comes as no surprise that hard-pressed, low-paid staff will be keen to up their wages.