Among the figures presented in the LGA's recent Funding outlook for councils to 2019/20, the one which has resolutely stuck in my mind is the complete imbalance between the cost of social care and the number receiving it.

There are 1.4 million people in direct receipt of care from their local authority. This compares with 47 million deemed to receive highways and transport services from their council or 52 million benefiting from council environmental services, and 47 million from culture, recreation and sport.