The dire forecasts and warnings issued in advance of the Autumn Statement will have meant some in local government may have been relieved things didn't appear to be as bad as feared. However, it is important to step back and consider the situation from a wider angle.

In an era of levelling up, and 12 years after austerity began, councils have just been condemned to a second round of real-terms cuts that could extend until the end of this decade. Further reliance on council tax will benefit the wealthiest areas, while rising demand will mean social care will increasingly dominate council spending.