Amid the constant stream of headlines outlining the precarious position of local government finance and calling for council funding to be increased, a lot of the finer detail is lost. In the melee of the adult social care cash crisis, rising children's services pressures and pothole funding chasms, Troubled Families budgets have been low down the list of priorities.

In all, the programme has had a bad press. A leaked report highlighting a lack of results was bandied round the media and Whitehall while Iain Duncan Smith branded it as little more than a distraction. But far from being labelled as a toxic brand, Troubled Families has a wealth of support in local government and it seems the MHCLG is keen too – assuming further funding can been secured.