In the days when schools had mottos rather than mission statements, mine was, in translation, ‘not without dust the prize’. This was a reference to games played in a sandy arena where victory could not be gained without getting dirty. This set me wondering whether this is a suitable epithet for the Fair Funding Review and the wider debate about local government finance following the demise of the Local Government Finance Bill.
Reviewing the submissions made in response to the recent consultation shows early signs of battle lines being drawn. While all can unite on the need for a shift in the quantum of resources, the various sectional interests are already advancing arguments about the mechanism of distribution.
The competitors in these games seem to be limbering up to kick sand in each other’s eyes.
