THE leader of Bury Council, Cllr Rishi Shori, has travelled to Downing Street as part of a delegation demanding greater funding for public services.

Made up of Labour MPs and Local Government Association council bosses, the delegation presented a "Breaking Point" petition, signed by more than 5,000 Labour councillors, to the Government.

Launched by the LGA, the Breaking Point campaign aims to highlight the depleted state of public finances which have led to the collapse of several councils ­— including Northamptonshire County Council.

The campaign further aims to reverse next year's £1.3 billion council budget cuts, and immediately invest £2 billion in children's services, and the same amount in adult social care.

It also pledges to restore council funding to 2010 levels, meaning an additional £9 million per year for Bury Council ­— enough cash to fill in 170,000 potholes.

However, since 2010 Bury Council has had to make budget cuts of £92 million, almost 70 per cent of the overall total.

Cllr Shori said: “Cuts to public services have gone too far and even Theresa May has admitted it. Having lost £92m in funding since 2010, coupled with the rising demand for social care for both adults and children’s services means that Council finances are really stretched. What is worse is that more cuts are on their way."

The delegation follows Conservative announcements that austerity is due to end.

At last month's Conservative Party Conference, The Prime Minister Theresa May said that the Government's eight-year austerity programme is "over", telling the public that the "end is in sight" and there are "better days ahead".

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, is also due to deliver his annual budget at the end of this month and is under pressure to make moves to end austerity, despite a backlash from Tory backbenchers.

Cllr Shori said: "The Prime Minister said last month that the end of austerity is in sight. Now it is time to put her money where her mouth is and use this month’s Budget to reverse the planned cuts to Council budgets, restore funding to previous levels and allow us to provide the best quality services that our residents need and deserve.”