'Councils left with a £4bn shortfall'

COUNCILS face a funding shortfall of more than £4 billion next year, putting more strain on overstretched services, according to a report.

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Unison said its research found that the most vulnerable residents were paying the price for years of under-funding.

The union said figures compiled with information directly from local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland showed council finances remained in a “dire state” despite a cash injection following Labour's election victory last year.

Unison estimated that the shortfall, between what councils need to run services and what they receive, amounts to £4.1 billion in 2026/27.