Local authorities in England are due to see their funding slashed by pound;1 billion over the next two years after the UK Government massively underestimated the number of schools expected to convert to academy status. The Department for Education revealed in January that it was planning to recoup pound;413 million from councils to help academies pay for services previously provided by local authorities. But the latest projection has more than doubled to between pound;940 million and pound;1.055 billion.