It is likely to take more than a one-year Spending Review to turn the page on austerity. Whether we are entering a new chapter of public spending or not, it is clear that the sustained impact of years of reduced funding has completely reshaped local government.

With demand continuing to rise alongside public expectations, the heat is still on when it comes to the financial sustainability of the sector. This is revealed in our latest local government survey, The Local State We're In, which shows that just half are confident they can find the necessary savings in the next year without impacting on quality. This is down from 72% this time last year.