Political reversals are all the rage, and faced with a £40bn fiscal hole the chancellor at the time of writing –Jeremy Hunt – is thought to be about to delay a cap on the cost of social care by a year.

MPs and campaigners have already begun a backlash. But across local government, amidst funding and workforce concerns and the Government's plans to reintroduce inspections next April, news of a likely delay of the cap to 2024 is being met with relief.