The words ‘devolution' and ‘combined authorities' are increasingly being said in the same breath. At the same time, the big cities are articulating their ‘ask' and ‘offer'. Where does that leave two-tier areas?

The New Local Government Network's recent report, As Tiers Go By: A Collaborative Future for Counties and Districts offers interesting insights as to the potential direction of travel. Central to the report's findings are that local models of collaboration, not top-down reorganisation, is key to making local government more efficient and effective.