Nearly a decade ago, chief executive of the Audit Commission Steve Bundred made his warning of a public finance ‘Armageddon' on the horizon. Since then, local government has borne the brunt of the cuts, but has sustained services and watched resident satisfaction rise.

But no more. Despite heeding Mr Bundred's warnings, the squeeze has taken its toll. A decade after Mr Bundred warned the Government over its ‘reckless' fiscal choices, local government finances are crumbling.