UNIONS have urged the incoming government to commit to fairly funding local councils after a new study revealed today that they face a funding gap of £6.2 billion.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has determined that the issue is fuelled by increasing costs and demand for adult social care, children’s services, homelessness support and transport for children with special needs and disabilities.

Due to severe financial constraints, two-thirds of councils have already been forced to reduce services like waste collections, road repairs, and library and leisure facilities this year, an LGA survey found.