A government minister has disputed claims by the Local Government Association (LGA) that councils are facing £3.3bn in funding cuts as ‘unsubstantiated and premature'.

The LGA's annual Future Funding Outlook report, which is published today, claims local authorities in England are facing a £3.3bn reduction in central government funding in 2016/17 and will have to make further savings – of up to 12% - next year.