Today the guesswork stops, and Gordon Brown’s intentions should become more apparent.

Much speculation has focused on what his first priorities will be, and whether there will be a ‘first 100 days’ of rapid change, or a more softly, softly approach.                 
The one issue Mr Brown has promoted and returned to frequently is his commitment to bring in a new ‘Constitutional settlement’. One report even talked of a ‘People’s Assembly’ to give the public the chance to draft a new Bill of Rights.                   
Of equal importance are the stark facts shown up in the Treasury's own report Devolved decision-making published last year. This claimed that the economic prosperity, GDP per head, in our great English cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Newcastle was now just half that of their European counterparts.
It went on to conclude that part of the reason for this was that these European cities enjoyed far greater political autonomy over the economic levers of planning, transport, housing, and economic development.                       
It is clear, from Sir Peter Gershon’s report, and others, that the growing burden of bureaucracy and control have simply wasted the public’s money. They have failed to harness the enterprise and initiative of frontline staff.
In addition, they have denied the ability of local people and their local councils from making local decisions and putting in place local solutions. In doing so, they have eroded both accountability and democracy.
What we do know for sure about the new prime minister is that he has made clear commitments to democratic devolution. The question is, how he will now do this.
We have asked Mr Brown to confirm and discuss with us his plans to take this forward and ensure that ‘devolution to empowered and strengthened local councils’ will be at the heart of any new constitutional settlement .
Apart from the core responsibility for improving public services and regeneration, there are wider national challenges. These include deep-seated problems such as widening social divisions, low skills, low aspirations, high worklessness and increasing social disorder.
These issues are both complex and inter-related. Two things are certain – that they are best tackled in partnerships, and that they must be tackled locally.
But, of all the partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors, only local government has the democratic legitimacy to lead. Council-led Local Area Agreement boards have the potential to co-ordinate and deliver government locally, to transform services and local economies, to take government closer to people, and to add visible and democratic accountability. What we are calling for is the Government to deliver a bold and radical devolution of powers. In many cases, this would mean transferring and returning functions from government and regional agencies, trusts and quangos back to local government.
We also want to see local select committees made up of local business leaders, MPs and councillors set up to give local people and communities the chance to hold to account councillors, leaders, police chiefs, health managers and those running utilities and companies providing public services. Councillors must also give local people a greater say over what goes on where they live and work by acting as powerful, dedicated advocates for their constituents.
Alongside this, the Government must introduce real deregulation, cutting targets, performance indicators, guidance, plans and financial bid systems and deliver a fair, transport and sustainable local government finance system.
It is our belief that it is through a constitutional settlement along these lines that there is a real chance for government to re-engage with people, ensuring that powers are effectively devolved so public services can be transformed and made more accountable.
We look forward to working with the new prime minister and his Cabinet. n
Lord Bruce-Lockhart is chairman of the LGA