Relations between central and local government have reached ' the most serious moment in memory ', says the Environment Secretary, The Rt Hon
Michael Heseltine , mp, who is in the centre of a major political storm.
Government plans to curb local councils' spending by such methods as referendums are under attack, not only in the town and county halls, but in the House of Commons as well. The BBC's Environment Correspondent
John Hosken will cover the points of view which add up to The Great Rates Row and will examine alternative systems of local taxation, the subject of a government Green Paper.
Producer TIM MABY