There is a wider political agenda behind the recent attack by a minister on SOLACE says Michael Burton.

After a lull in hostilities, the artillery barrage of ministerial and media sniping against council senior salaries appears to have restarted. It may be temporary, a reflection more of the imminent party conference political knock-about season. Or it may herald another shift in strategy, perhaps linked to ministerial nervousness that council spending cuts will start to be felt in the autumn.