As we know, the health lobby is a formidable force. Against its ranks of associations representing nurses, consultants, managers, GPs, health visitors and charities – not to mention MPs and the public – local government has little chance when it comes to divvying up the static national budget.

But health is not the only powerful lobby, and now that business rates looks set to be 100% localised by 2020, local government needs to be aware of other powerful forces set to be arraigned against it. In this instance it is the retail lobby which this week set off the first of what are likely to be many broadsides against the very principal of the business rate. Bearing in mind the rate might be replacing revenue support grant its potential shrinkage could have a major impact on local government revenues.