Communities secretary, Eric Pickles, has threatened to ban councils from cutting funding to voluntary groups after complaints it was threatening the Government's Big Society programme.

Mr Pickles told voluntary groups at their annual conference this week that he would use legal powers to prevent councils making ‘unreasonable' cuts to community groups, saying they were ‘a great concern to the Government'. He also hinted he could rein back localism, adding: ‘The way councils liaise with the voluntary sector is a key test of whether councils are ready for independent, responsible leadership.'