Understandably, local authorities are exuberant about the devolution agenda dangled before them by the new government. However, without wishing in any way to be negative, there does need to be a reality check.

The first concerns the high number and variations of the devolution bids submitted to the Treasury. Indeed, communities secretary Greg Clark said he had expected ‘a dozen or so' instead of 38. It is hard to see all of them getting the go-ahead. The Treasury was always firmly behind the Greater Manchester Powerhouse project but GM authorities are unique in maintaining a strategic partnership ever since the metropolitan county was abolished in 1986. The Treasury was also keen for the Midlands Engine to get its act together as part of its strategy of having powerful counter-weights north of Watford to attract investment.