More cuts on the way regardless of political party Eric Pickles warns in Dudley borough visit

The minister, who was visiting Halesowen and Kingswinford yesterday, said local authorities had to stop 'empire building' and start to share more services.

He also spoke out about Wolverhampton City Council, which has warned residents to expect 'more pain' over cuts to services.

When asked if the level of funding cuts were sustainable, Mr Pickles bullishly said: "It is completely sustainable. Satisfaction in local government has never been higher and the level of reserves have never been higher.

"It doesn't matter who is running the country after the election, the amount of money is going down.

"Mr Balls has made this clear for them that there will be serious savings.

"If councils believe they need more money then it is up to them to make the case to the people and run a referendum."

"Telling residents to expect 'more pain' is not appropriate language to use. Councils across the country have been able to find these sums. We have done a great deal in giving money where it is needed and have said to them if they are able to generate extra income they can keep it. They know what the situation is. We have put money in where the pressure is greatest. They cannot expect to have empires and need to co-operate more with neighbours."

As part of cost-cutting measures Dudley Council and Staffordshire County Council have controversially turned to dimming or switching off street lights. Residents have expressed fears it will lead to an increase in crime.

Mr Pickles said such decisions should be taken after talks with residents.

He said:"There was a big push by the last Labour government to do this. It has to be a local choice. The big difference now is that we have LED and new technology which has made it more efficient.

"In my own constituency we have areas that want to have the lights off - and others that don't. This decision has to be taken with local consultation. There probably is a suggestion from crime statistics that there is a correlation between a rise in crime and the level of light but this is not something the Government is pushing on either way."

Mr Pickles was knocking on doors with Conservative campaigners in Halesowen and Kingswinford - both in marginal constituencies.

In Halesowen he met with MP James Morris and in Kingswinford he met with Tory prospective parliamentary candidate Mike Wood for Dudley South.

Mr Pickles said the Black Country would be a key battle ground for the election.

He said: "The Black Country is very important to the country and we also have an election coming up and I am speaking to people about that. The Black Country - indeed the Midlands - is a vital area and I am here to show support to James Morris in Halesowen and Rowley Regis and Mike Wood in Dudley South who I have known for a number of years."

His stop-off in the Black Country came a day after he ordered government officials to takeover the running of Rotherham Council after another damning report into failures to address the town's child sexual exploitation scandal.

He said: "What happened in Rotherham has nothing to do with spending cuts. It was atrocious and there was a complete dereliction of duty. I am sure that in Wolverhampton and across the Black Country we have caring council workers who do a superb job protecting our children. I am working with the Home Secretary and Nicky Morgan the Education Secretary to identify best practice and to make sure the lessons of Rotherham are truly learned and shared. This is above politics."

Hitting back at Mr Pickles' comments, Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said: "I think we have go to be realistic to people. I think we have done quite an extraordinary job considering how severe the cuts have been. Our biggest spend goes on children in care and on the frail elderly which is not seen by the majority of people. Local government has taken more than its fair share of the cuts - more than any other department. I have spoken to the shadow front bench and believe a Labour government would listen to the councils and work better to make efficiencies across local and national government than the slash and burn approach we have had."