The Lyons report is a major contribution to the development of local government in the 20th century.
The tragedy is that the Government has chosen to neglect or reject many of its recommendations. A wise response would have been to wait and hear reactions, and then make a considered judgment.
The media, apart from the local government press, have devoted almost all their attention to the recommendations on local government finance.

They have ignored the most important part of the report, which discussed the role and functions of local government and central-local relations, recommending a new constitutional settlement. This part of the report not only provides a necessary background to its recommendations on finance, but is important in its own right.