Regional variations in council spending continue to exist, according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

According to figures compiled by CIPFA and the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the total service expenditure (TSE) of councils in some regions is expected to fall in the next year, while in other areas it will increase slightly.

The East Midlands will see their TSE fall by 2% and the West Midlands will also see a decline of 2.1%, while spending in the North East is expected to rise by 1%.

The total TSE for local authorities in England is expected to fall by 1% in 2013/14 to £93.8bn.

This figure excludes public health spending, while councils took over responsibility for in April this year.

According to CIPFA, the figures for 2013/14 will be near 2007/8 spending levels, equivalent to spending of £1,767 per person.

'There is a growing need for the public sector to start to engage with in tough conversations about the future shape and nature of local government, and what levels of services local communities can continue to expect in the age of continued austerity and beyond,' said CIPFA?'s director, policy and technical, Ian Carruthers.