Like marriage, relationships between councils and private corporations require hard work, patience, communication and trust. As Lucretia Mott, a women's rights activist once said: 'In the true married relationship, the independence of husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal.' This has never rung more true than in the case of contractual relationships being forged between councils and private companies.

According to the most recently available national figures, councils spend at least £69bn on third party providers annually. Clearly there is a lot at stake for local authority outsourcing.