In the local government calendar, March heralds the end of the financial year and the start of a new one. But, as councils finalise their budgets, the end of March brings another deadline – the moment councils can give notice to leave the Local Government Association (LGA).

While several councils have remained on rolling notice in recent years, it is the annual moment of truth for the LGA – just exactly who is going to hold them to ransom for the next year?