Accounts published by the DCLG show that Eland House has witnessed a 13% boost to its core budget, while reducing the size of its workforce by 37%.

The figures could surprise those unfamiliar with local government finance during the ongoing period of deep cuts – but reflect the transfer to the local government sector of Whitehall cash to tackle specific problems, including significant investment in the Government's 'troubled families' programme, as well as the allocation of the Government's £1.2bn Regional Growth Fund and the £700m Growing Places Fund.