It must be nice to be Melanie Dawes, to live a life of optimism and confidence. The ministry's permanent secretary announced to the Public Accounts Committee earlier this week that she didn't expect to see another ‘Northamptonshire situation'.

And it's not the hard work, dedication and pure determination of local government staff across the country that is keeping the sector afloat in the midst of extreme fiscal pressure. Ms Dawes claims it was the cash injection in the Budget, won by the ministry, which stabilised councils' finances as we limp towards the Prime Minister's promise of an end to austerity.