I was looking forward to reading the interim report of the Commission on Local Government Finance, although I knew not to expect too much. For those immersed in aspects of local government finance, its labyrinthine structure and political underpinnings mean that it owes more to controlling spending than rewarding initiative.

A good but depressing example is that we have what amounts to a housing crisis right now, where many people find that owning a home is an unaffordable dream, yet the Government has increased the discount under right to buy; can there be real hope for change under such a regime?