At the end of last week, two dozen council chief executives and directors, closeted in an isolated country mansion in rural Staffordshire for 24 hours, attempted to second guess the next Spending Review.

Their task, set by organiser, the NLGN, was to plot a series of three separate budgets over the next five years for a mythical unitary council, Anyborough, cutting some 40% of spending. Yours truly was one of two journalists invited to attend – and sing for our supper.