The local government landscape is strewn with 'partnerships', these can involve other councils, unelected public bodies(such as police and NHS), and other disparate community groups. That some good work comes from them I do not deny, however I am concerned that they are often a way for unelected, self-selecting people to exercise control over often large sums of public money. I hope that one of the new roles the Vale's Scrutiny Committee will be able to take on under my chairmanship will be to keep an eye on these bodies. Across local and national government we need to look with fresh eyes at what tasks government should be involved with and how to deliver results efficiently. Hats off to the Mayor of Doncaster who has announced that the council will withdraw from the Local Government Association and the Local Government Information Unit, a decision estimated to save the good people of Doncaster £200,000.