Well, the much-vaunted Localism Act has joined the statute book, and one thing that is evident is that local government is now facing some of the biggest governmental changes it has faced for about four decades.

The impact of this Act, together with the changes around social care, health and wellbeing and the police and crime commissioners, represent a huge agenda that the public sector has to implement in a relatively-short time. Whatever individual views are on the merits of the legislative provisions, public servants have to plan and prepare to ensure our communities are helped to make use of the powers for the good of the locality.