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Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it would have to cut “pretty much everything” it was not legally obliged to provide if it failed to agree a financial support deal with the government. The authority said discussions to date were “constructive and positive” but without an agreement, its worst case scenario would be to declare effective bankruptcy. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said the government was ready to talk to any councils concerned about their financial position. Under its budget proposals, the council said it would be forced to introduce year-round charges for brown bin collections, reduce staff numbers and stop some cultural grants. But even these cuts would leave the authority in a vulnerable state financially, it said in its plans.