Why are Councils Close to Collapse?

Local government is visibly getting closer to collapse across the country as Kensington, Northants and (probably) Somerset all show that they cannot perform their basic functions. 

The irony is that this a result that has been deliberately produced by a Conservative Government.

It used to be that the Conservative Party prided itself on quiet competence, but under Osborne/Cameron and subsequently under May a series of cuts have been deliberately organised hitting local government in particular.  Since local government is often the last resort in social care, homelessness, emergencies and so much else it is the first part of the government to crumble.

The fact that other institutions, like the NHS, charities and so on are all being pressured at the same time creates a perfect storm that means none of them can take up the slack.

The result is a kind of governmental nihilism.  The remarkable thing is that it is the preferred option of the Conservative policy, not merely an unfortunate by product.