Local government spending cuts have left councils in the south west unable to meet the needs of communities - and in some cases are putting the public at risk, Unison claims.

A survey, released to coincide with the union’s local government conference, reveals that eight in ten of council workers have no confidence in the future of local services, and almost half are thinking of leaving their jobs for less stressful work elsewhere.

The survey – of 966 local government employees working across all services – reveals that 72 per cent say residents don’t receive help and support when they need it, and 60 per cent are not confident vulnerable residents are safe and cared for.

Council staff who took part shared stories of families living in mouldy, overcrowded properties; fly-tipping being left for weeks; increasing rodent populations; residents’ cars damaged by huge potholes; and vulnerable children, young people and adults not getting the help and support they need.

A recent National Audit Office (NAO) report revealed that government funding for local authorities in England has fallen by an estimated 49% (in real terms) from 2010-11 to 2017-18.

In Unison’s survey, 88 per cent of respondents in the south west admitted these cuts have had a negative impact on their ability to do the job as well as they can.

While local authorities have protected spending on statutory service areas such as adult and children’s social care, the amount they spend on other areas like parks and libraries has fallen sharply, the union says.

Unison South West head of local government Gav Brooks said: “Local services are collapsing and council workers are being left to pick up the pieces and do the best they can amid the chaos. This disturbing survey should ring alarm bells in Whitehall.

“Local authorities have had to cut so many vital services that they have now reached a point where vulnerable children and the elderly struggle to get the help that they need, entire communities are suffering, and the public are being put at risk.

“With cuts to road and bridge maintenance, potholes in roads are left unfilled, and bridges are at risk of crumbling. Crematoriums are not maintained, streetlights stay broken, and parks are in disrepair as councils don’t have the equipment or the staff to adequately maintain them."

He added: “Now is the time to reverse these cuts and invest in local government once more or the very fabric of our society will come unstuck.”