The qualities local public service leaders most crave from their political masters in Whitehall are clarity, consistency and realism. Be clear about what you want, try to ensure the voluminous outputs of the central policy machine broadly align with what you say you want, and take responsibility for designing and adhering to a deliverable plan to get what you want.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the treatment of NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). The NHS 10-year plan makes clear how important ICBs are to the changes ministers want to achieve.
