Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice took the unusual step of joining Monk and other council leaders at a media briefing on Friday, where he said Worcestershire was in the greatest financial trouble of the 12 councils it runs in England.

He said he was confident the council, which had asked for permission to increase council tax by up to 10% from April, would turn things round.

But his words were not enough to prevent Reform councillor David Taylor resigning from the party live on air on the BBC's Politics Midlands show on Sunday.

The Worcestershire county councillor said people in his constituency were "skint" and did not have the money "to pay for a massive upheaval in council tax".

A Reform spokesman said Taylor "has never been prepared to undertake the role of a councillor to the extent we feel is required" and resigned when challenged.

Worcestershire is one of about 100 local authorities in England to have applied to the government for Exceptional Financial Support.

The government is expected to write to councils shortly with their decision on funding.

The government has also announced an extra £440m in so-called recovery grants for councils in economically deprived areas - and an extra £272m to tackle homelessness.

"We promised to reconnect funding to deprivation and this final settlement delivers on that promise," said McGovern in a written statement on Monday.

"With more new funding, we're giving councils the certainty they need to plan ahead and transform services.

"Our purpose is to support families, tackle homelessness before it happens, and finally giving communities worst affected by historic cuts their fair share."

But Steven Broadbent, finance spokesman for the County Councils Network, said the funding had been "unfairly" targeted at urban and metropolitan borough councils - and county councils would be forced to increase tax and cut services.

The government also announced on Monday that it would be spending £5bn on writing off 90% of councils' historic debts relating to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, accumulated up to April this year.