The row over the slow distribution of business rates relief intensified this week, when London Councils revealed ministers were warned about problems with town hall software before Whitehall's last-minute support package.

Cllr Claire Kober, chair of London Councils, has written to local government minister Marcus Jones reminding him that Whitehall was warned it would take time for councils to introduce any new system of business rates relief because software programmes would need to be amended.