The chatter around local government reorganisation has, in recent months, grown to a cacophony. For large swathes of the sector it is the inevitable consequence of squeezed finances and expanded devolution. 

Indeed, there is a school of thought that would argue local government finances were deliberately strangled by the previous government in an effort to get councils to opt for reorganisation voluntarily. Turkeys may not usually vote for Christmas – but they may realise a festive feast is their only option for existence.