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The government says that without radical reforms to the benefit system it could cost the tax payer as much as £70bn annually by the end of the decade.

"The bill payer has paid for a service that has never fully been provided, and the illegality demonstrates that for all to see."

Rather than spend tax payers' money on administration and consultancy fees, councils will be able to invest in fixing pavements, dropping kerbs, installing seats, improving bus shelters and making streets safer for all, he added.

When the plan to do the same in the UK was announced a year ago, the BBC said it would "generate more revenue to support the BBC, licence-fee payers our suppliers and rights holders".

The impact on rate payers, though, could be diminished, even if Edison is found to be at fault.