Interesting times! In a World in which the term ‘expenses' can convert a fiver into a frenzy, Sport England has ordered an independent investigation into the 'World Class Payments Bureau' set up to process payments to elite athletes and performers (and the related programme costs) between 1999 and 2007.

Interestingly, the Bureau was put in place (to ensure probity), with the assistance of a secondment from the National Audit Office and others because, back then, many NGBs (including some of our main Olympic players) were not deemed capable of implementing appropriate financial control over the process of financially supporting their elite athletes. Ironically, it is the investment made by Sport England and UK Sport in modernising governance that has led to a substantially more ‘fit for purpose' set of NGBs which are now able to manage their own affairs - hence the redundancy of the Bureau.

Simon Lunn's article ‘Beware Transformation' raises several important points primarily about the importance of local authorities to sport. One of the unfortunate (and, in fairness, unintended) spin-offs of the recent change in Sport England strategic direction is the reduced prominence given to their role in the delivery of sport. This runs contrary to the absolute dependence of many sports (at a range of levels) on the provision local authorities make. While their core role is often partially obscured by debates about contracting, trusts, schools & PE, the third sector, volunteers and clubs - all essential in their own right, it is vital for sport that we do support and continue to stress the importance of the agency that tends to be at the centre of all local involvement; trying to keep facilities open and participation affordable - the local authority.

Recently research published by UK Sport found that Manchester's Year of Sport in 2008 generated a £23 million net economic impact to the area, plus the knock on social and participatory benefits. KKP's own recent study of the economic impact of sport in the North West backs this claim.

In the upcoming public sector climate in which non-statutory services like sport are bound to be squeezed, we must try to ensure that investment (because that is what it is) in sport, whether linked to the economy, participation or health, is at least maintained if not extended.