The new power of general competence will give local authorities the chance to make bold moves on charging and trading. Councillor Peter Flemming explains.

The funding outlook report released by the Local Government Association (LGA) last week paints a bleak picture of the cost pressures councils are facing. Without immediate action, the rapid increase in the cost of providing adult social care plus big cuts to council budgets will, by 2020, see a 90% reduction in the money available to fund services like road maintenance, libraries and leisure centres.