The dust has settled and we have completed our responses to the settlement. Now it's time for some horizon-scanning while we await the final settlement which accedes to our very reasonable requests and suggestions.

In some ways there are grounds for cautious optimism. We have a government committed to sorting out finances over the medium-term, albeit with reductions in total spending. The redistribution of that finance is at least ‘fair' as it takes into account an authority's ability to raise income.