The team of commissioners hired to turn round Rotherham MBC was announced last week – and it is an all-star line up. Three highly experienced council chief executives – Sir Derek Myers, Stella Manzie and Mary Ney – will take on the job, joining existing children’s commissioner Malcolm Newsam.

Even the private sector commissioner – local businesswoman Julie Kenny – is a safe pair of hands after taking on the same role during nearby Doncaster’s intervention.

With a provisional date for the intervention to run until March 2019, and the stellar line-up, communities secretary Eric Pickles is taking no chances when it comes to turning round Rotherham. After all, this could be his legacy – a final act of stepping in at a failing authority before the election sees a new government or a reshuffle.