It's 20 years since the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (the dearly departed IDeA) was founded and in the spirit of Radio 4's The Reunion some of the original cast set up to meet last month

It was a pleasant occasion and attended by many who had gone on to greater things. As the evening progressed the conversation turned to the modern day. Frankly it's difficult to be optimistic about the future direction of local government – not because of the many talented people who remain but for the barriers and pitfalls that have been erected in the path of future progress.