Communities secretary Eric Pickles has renewed his attack on financial reserves held by councils in advance of this month's Spending Review.

It follows the publication last week of official figures showing that local authorities have amassed a cash stockpile of £16bn. According to figures issued last week by the DCLG, England's local authorities hold £4.1bn of unallocated non-school financial reserves – and a further £12.4bn of earmarked non-school reserves.