There is always a certain amount of scepticism when council chiefs receive the latest missives from central government…and never more so than in the midst of Brexit chaos.

This week the Cabinet Office tried to encourage its council friends to join a training course on contingency planning, headed ‘Wishes or plans?' Diary rather fears our Westminister political masters should have taken the advice before Brexit and put more store in actual planning in advance – rather than just hoping for the best.