UK councils slashing services to meet £3.2bn budget shortfall

Exclusive: Inflation, energy prices and Liz Truss' mini-budget are contributing factors to cuts local leaders described as unprecedented

Libraries and children's centres are closing and home pick-ups for young disabled people being cancelled as councils try to meet a 3.2bn budget shortfall next year.

With inflation and energy prices eating into budgets, local authorities across the UK are facing a record black hole that is unlikely to be plugged by central governmentas the Treasury is seeking to squeeze spending to make up for a 30-50bn shortfall in the public finances.