The Audit Commission, responsible for protecting the public purse, found that councils made £10.2 billion in 2011/12 by charging for rubbish, funerals and other domestic services.

Money brought in by supplementary service charges helped fund 20% of overall service spending by district councils and 9% of the overall spending by single-tier and county councils in 2011/12.

Although nationally, money received through such services amounted to less than Mens Barbour Casual Jackets half the sum brought in through council tax, the public spending watchdog found that one in three (32%) districts were collecting more money through these additional services than they were through council tax. This was also true for one in five (21%) London boroughs.

The Audit Commission suggested some councils were perhaps using additional paid-for services to boost their income, after the central government grant to local authorities was cut by 26% between 2011 and 2015.

Commission chairman Jeremy Newman said: "There is no 'one-size-fits-all' formula for Barbour UK Jackets how councils set their local charging policies. We are providing information and tools for councils, and those who hold them to account, to help understand the important role that charging plays in councils' strategic financial management.