Last year, the chancellor announced that ‘the era of austerity is finally coming to an end'. To prove it, the Government announced that real-term day-to-day spending on most public services would, on average, increase by 1.2% every year between 2019/20 and 2023/24.

But that increase was predicated on a Spending Review which is now likely to be delayed, with a single year review bridging the gap. And even if it goes ahead, councils will continue to feel the squeeze.