Following the publication earlier this month of the IMPOWER Index of out-performing authorities, this week, chief executive of Essex CC Gavin Jones says that while there is no unique formula for success, he tries to adhere to ten performance management principles. And Owen Mapley writes that while there is a role for indexes and benchmarking tools, using them to prompt local debate is more important than direct comparisons,  and government must not underestimate the scale of the operational and financial crisis facing most councils.