In the last few weeks alone, a substantial devolution deal for Sheffield City Region has been announced – the second in the UK, following the previous agreement secured by Greater Manchester.

That was followed closely by chancellor George Osborne’s speech at the Conservative Party conference, in which he set out plans to allow local governments to keep all business rates from 2020, with mayors allowed to raise rates to invest in infrastructure if they can agree it with businesses. These form the first step towards government giving places more control over their own finances as well as other strategic powers.