Considering what a grim year this has been for the LGA, with huge cuts to its own budget as well as a sector shredded in the Spending Review, its conference this week has been a triumph for attracting the full deck of political leaders, Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband; deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg; and particularly David Cameron, for whom this is his first appearance as prime minister.

What does this mean? That the leaders enjoy the hospitality of Birmingham’s trendy canal-side bars? That the prime minister and Mr Clegg are keen to support the city’s own coalition administration before it could slip to Labour control next May?

Possibly. Does it represent a belated, even guilt-ridden, recognition that councils have received a pasting in the past year and local politicians – not least Conservative ones – have had enough?

Perhaps. Does it signify that now the nasty medicine has been prescribed, the coalition government is anxious to mend fences, especially as local elections next year may not be quite so benign to the Conservatives as they were this year? Maybe.

But more importantly, we are into the next year of the Government.

In opposition, the Conservatives always maintained the bad news would come first. Local government had a raw deal from the Spending Review and it has tested to the limit the loyalty of local Conservative leaders.

Now, they want and expect some recognition of the sacrifice the sector has made, and hints that there is sun appearing through the clouds. It is no coincidence that communities secretary, Eric Pickles, calls the current period – in his interview with The MJ this week – the ‘second phase’, the first presumably having been cuts and ritual abuse of ‘non jobs’ and ‘waste’, the second liberation and new powers as envisaged in the Localism Bill.

The deal on local government pensions is certainly a portent. Attracting the prime minister to the conference is a coup for the LGA.

With a new association chairman and party leaders and, hopefully, a new willingness by ministers to genuinely work with local government, the signs for once are promising. Let us hope it is not just another calm period between storms.