Despite the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) upgrading its projection for UK growth to 3% this year, local authorities will still be feeling the effects of substantial budget cuts. This Autumn Statement will do little do hearten their mood, with scant concessions for councils that are already feeling stretched.

As a recent report by the National Audit Office (NAO) shows, austerity is already impacting on service provision. With the chancellor emphasising the need for substantial savings in public spending in today's statement the situation looks set to continue and potentially worsen.