‘It does require councils...to step up to develop ...high quality bids,' said local government secretary Robert Jenrick in July this year in reference to levelling up funds. The invitation was clear: there is money available for cash-strapped local authorities, but it won't just be handed out to those who ask for it, the process will be rigorous, and the bidding will be competitive.

The concept wasn't a new one. Applications for funding pots, under various guises, have been available for years. However, as we have seen in the past, not all those who apply will be allocated funds and those who are may not receive the full amount requested.