Reading recent headlines, localists will be thinking that Christmas has come early. Chancellor George Osborne is seducing Bolton and Birmingham with promises of capital investment, mayors and major devolution.

Labour and other contenders in next year’s elections are also sweet-talking councils over skills training, further education, transport and housing.

No-one is getting carried away. The parties’ plans have too many holes in them – schools are a glaring omission, despite the National Audit Office’s damning report on the lack of accountability in English education and health and social care. Nonetheless, it does seem – at last – as if councils are being seen as a part of the solution and no longer the problem.