10. Paul Tilsley, Birmingham City Council

As deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, Paul Tilsley is the second most powerful man in the largest local authority in the country.

He has faced a potentially difficult task taking over from John Hemming, the former leader of the Lib-Dem group on the council who is now an MP.

Mr Hemming turned the Lib-Dems into a force to be reckoned with in the city. He is a undoubtedly a big character and not easily replaced, but Coun Tilsley rose to the challenge, thanks partly to his success in forging a close relationship with the authority's Conservative leader, Mike Whitby.

The so-called progressive partnership between the Tories and the Lib-Dems is easily mocked, but a similar arrangement was recently introduced in Wolverhampton, which is now run also by a Conservative/Lib-Dem alliance.

In Birmingham, the partnership has probably benefited from the Labour Group apparently giving up on any hope of regaining power in the near future, but it has enjoyed some major successes, including securing funding for the redevelopment of New Street Station, and pressing ahead with local area agreements to improve co-operation with neighbouring authorities.

A report submitted to the council's cabinet suggested that Birmingham will qualify for almost £10 million in additional Government grant as a reward for improved performance. Just five years ago, Birmingham's social services and housing were ranked no-star failures by the Audit Commission and the council struggled to hit even half of the targets set by Whitehall.