Sometimes, being a minister at the DCLG must feel like looking over the tennis net to see [this year's Wimbledon champion] Novak Djokovic grinning back at you... a sinking feeling as you realise you just can't win.

Having taken a massive step towards delivering something that the local government community has been petitioning for decades – local retention of some – if not all – of the business rates collected in each area – they could be forgiven for expecting a thunderous round of applause.