Council and local authority funding: Sir Merrick Cockell

Council leaders from across England are gathering in Manchester for the Local Government Association (LGA) conference after hearing about 10% funding cuts in last week's Spending Review.

Sir Merrick Cockell, who chairs the LGA, said councils "can't just carry on like that", adding that there should be a new way of "connecting people to the democratic process at a local level".

One idea is a new single England Office - taking on work from six Westminster departments - and a review of money for English services, and the devolved nations under the Barnett Formula.

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