Council services face a £7.8bn funding gap by 2025 - leaving many ‘on the brink of collapse' ahead of a ‘make or break' Spending Review - the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.

As senior local government figures gathered in Birmingham for the LGA's annual conference today, Smith Square estimated the current adult social care funding gap of £2.5bn will soar to £3.5bn by 2025 while the children's services deficit will widen from £2bn to £3bn.