What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Philip Hammond is to slash £1.3billion from frontline council services in the next 12 months.

Main grant funding from central government will be cut by 36% in 2019/20, say local authorities.

And 168 councils will not get any of the grant money at all, the Local Government Association said.

In the decade to 2020, councils will have lost 60% of grants provided for services, according to the LGA.

The financial viability of some councils is under threat, while others are unable to protect children and provide dignified care for the elderly and disabled, the LGA said.

Council chiefs have called on the Chancellor to take action in his Budget on October 29, with the LGA claiming residents in an average area face seeing more key services cut “dramatically”.

(Image: Getty Images)

According to LGA figures, funding cuts and inflation would see their local authority lose £50.7million in 2019-1920.

Richard Watts, chairman of the LGA’s resources board, said: “Unprecedented funding pressures and demand for adult and children’s social care and homelessness services

is pushing councils to the limit.

“As a result less money is being spent on the other services that keep our communities running, such as libraries, local roads, early intervention and local welfare support.

“Losing a further £1.3billion of central funding at this time is going to tip many councils over the edge.”