The District Councils Network chairman, Neil Clarke, has finally received the long-awaited call from minister for decentralisation and cities, Greg Clark, regarding planning fees.

So, it wasn't the full localisation we'd been promised more than 12 months ago. It was an attempt to ensure that our rapidly-dwindling planning teams received sufficient resources to enable them to properly balance the constantly-competing pressure to drive local economic growth and regeneration, while protecting local spaces and general wellbeing.