Councils could be forgiven for wondering if government remains as committed to devolution and decentralisation of power, post-Brexit, as it appeared to be before June's vote.

It would be a major policy U-turn to cancel next year's mayoral elections for the big three combined authority areas of Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and the West Midlands. However, it doesn't appear many other deals are close to completion, with almost daily stories of negotiations collapsing.