Rising prices and wages land councils with their own cost-of-living crisis

As the squeeze on household budgets tightens, many will turn to local authorities for help: but their councillors are also struggling with inflation

Inflation is weighing on Nazia Rehman's mind. Not only has the Wigan councillor been approached by scores of residents who can't afford their energy bills, but some of the town's community centres - tasked with helping the very same people - now face similar problems.

They're saying they're not sustainable any more because of the risk they can't afford their expenses," she says. They're our eyes and ears: people use them and they're so valued by our community. It would be a disaster if they go."