Reading the Independent Finance Commission’s final report, I was struck by the positive streak that ran through some of the visions; self-reliance, self-sufficiency, entrepreneurialism and innovation.

Translating the visions into practical measures gives us the power to change council tax discounts, impose new banding arrangements, amend the council tax support arrangements, and agree council tax rises ourselves without fear of capping.

Add to that the extension of the system to retain business rates in increasing proportions and we finally look to be shrugging off the previous failed attempts to reform what can only be loosely described as local government finance. All good stuff – even though some will be restricted to so-called ‘pioneer’ areas, which have presumably demonstrated that they are bodies to be trusted.