This week the Local Government Association's (LGA) annual conference is in full swing in Bournemouth with a new chairman at the helm. Central Bedfordshire Council leader James Jamieson has succeeded Lord Gary Porter, but let me start with a tribute to the LGA's successful and popular outgoing chairman.

Gary has enjoyed some significant achievements, notably the scrapping of the housing revenue account borrowing cap and also leading efforts to get combustible materials banned from use on high-rise buildings.