Consultations in the final few months of Parliament tend to be tidying-up exercises by civil servants.

No one wants too much controversy this close to purdah and the consultation on proposed revisions to the Best Value Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities gives every indication of falling into this category. Councils are to be reminded they should not contract with extremist organisations or those that provoke division in society (thanks), and that they "should seek to minimise unnecessary paperwork and obstacles" (sic).