It probably didn’t escape your attention that the latest government spending review took place two weeks ago.

As expected, the squeeze on local government continues. The commitment to localism was underlined and with it the expectation that these new powers will allow us raise the funds that will plug the gaps already being felt in services. Indeed, even concerned citizen Dave from Chipping Norton has expressed his concern about the state of services in Oxfordshire, citing an expert opinion that it’s clearly a problem with the inefficient backroom processes that’s to blame for the puncture in the passenger-side front tyre of his 4x4.