The National Audit Office has highlighted the financial weakness of many local authorities, and the DCLG's almost incredible lack of preparation for the collapse of local government functions. The scale of government cuts, and their politically motivated concentration in the areas of greatest need, make collapse in at least some areas inevitable. As with failing schools, once a local authority gets past a certain point putting it back together is likely to far harder than saving a going concern.
Eric Pickles seems to have made no effort to prepare for this, just waiting for things to fall apart. When the crisis hits I suspect his previous tactic of simply blaming the local council won't work and people will be blaming the failures of his own department (who I dare say will be as overwhelmed as the Education Department in handling failing free schools.
Sadly, it will be the people in the relevant areas who will suffer the consequences.
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