The man asked to carry out a three-year review of local government for ministers is being widely tipped to become the new BBC chairman.
According to reports in a number of newspapers, Sir Michael Lyons could succeed Michael Grade in the job.
His name will now go forward to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and he will have to win backing from the Privy Council.
Sir Michael was most recently professor of public policy at the University of Birmingham.
Between 1994 and 2001 he held the position of Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council. Before that he was Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire (1990-1994) and Wolverhampton MBC (1985-1990), following an earlier career in both central and local government working on urban regeneration and economic development. Between 1980 and 1983 he also served as a Birmingham city councillor.
He was knighted for services to local government in 2000.
