One of the regular messages I receive from council chief executives when we happen to discuss budgets – which with them is most of the time – is the importance of being prepared.

The ones who maintain they are, of course, are only too keen to remind me of their foresight, in particular by realising that the fiscal crash in 2007/8 must inevitably lead to a downturn in public finances and that they must start making cuts from 2009 onwards irrespective of spending reviews.