Council cuts will bring local government 'to its knees'

Local authority leaders in England and Wales tell Guardian survey that municipal finances are increasingly 'unsustainable'

Councils are to roll out far-reaching cuts to local services from next week in the latest round of belt-tightening that town hall leaders warn will bring local government in England and Wales "to its knees".

A survey of more than 80 councils by the Guardian reveals communities around the country will be hit, with arts and sports budgets slashed, youth centres closed and support for thousands of vulnerable people withdrawn as authorities struggle to deal with a growing financial crisis.

Council leaders, who are preparing to implement their fourth spending reduction programme in three years, warn that the situation "fills them with horror" and predict things are set to get worse with plans already being drawn up for even deeper cuts in a year's time.

After last week's budget, which made it clear local government will continue to bear the brunt of public spending cuts beyond the current spending review period, council leaders said municipal finances were increasingly "unsustainable".

The Guardian surveyed 81 councils in England and Wales and among those that responded to each question:

• Almost half said they were planning to reduce spending on care services for adults – hitting those with learning difficulties or disabilities. Eight have scrapped care for those deemed to have "moderate" needs, leaving thousands of vulnerable people with reduced support.

• Over 50% said they would be cutting the money spent on children's services and a fifth said they would be closing – or transferring responsibility for – youth centres in their areas.

• Almost two-thirds are planning to cut spending on culture and sports with one, Wigan, slashing its budget by more than three-quarters.

• Planning budgets are being hit, with 75% saying there would be cuts in the next 12 months, some by almost 50%. Richard Rogers and other leading architects warn in the Guardian that the cuts will undermine the government's ambition to give local people more say over planning, instead placing it in the hands of property developers and their lawyers.

• Four councils who responded said they would be closing libraries or transferring them to community ownership, although campaigners claim this is just the tip of the iceberg.

• Sixteen authorities said they were changing the frequency of bin collection and introducing more recycling. Some have taken up government grants to maintain or return to weekly rounds. Others are sticking with or moving to fortnightly collections, arguing they are greener and more cost-efficient.

• Total spending across four key areas – adult social care, children's services, planning, and culture and leisure – is falling in over half of the authorities providing complete figures.

More than 40% of councils in England are planning to increase council tax this year, according to a survey.

This is despite local authorities being offered money by the government to freeze bills.