As the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) and Autumn Statement loom ever closer in our sights, local government and much of the public sector are bracing themselves for more and ever deeper cuts.

Local government has taken very disproportionate cuts from the Government since 2010 and most commentators expect this to be the case over the rest of this Parliament. Even the offer of the retention of business rates and some further devolution of competencies will significantly fall short of making up for the draconian cuts to government grants. And increased demand for services will simply compound the challenge faced by the vast majority of local authorities, although the magnitude of the cuts to come will vary from authority to authority.