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Libraries, youth clubs, parks — the discretionary services that make places liveable are being shed as councils face a funding gap that shows no sign of closing.

The rate is down. Prices are not. For millions of households, the distinction matters more than the headline.

The voluntary sector is doing remarkable work. It is also being asked to do something it was never designed to do: replace the state.

A new analysis quantifies what commuters already know. The findings are not surprising. The scale is.