We all know the challenges facing the sector with funding the provision of adult social care and children’s services. A serious debate and honest discussion should take place about how we address the long-term issues in both of these areas. In the case of home to school transport, one of the most serious situations we need tackling, local authorities must unite to convince Government that working off legislation from the 1940s doesn’t suit the demands of 2024.

Before the publication of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement in December, I took the conscious decision, alongside my colleagues in the LGA Conservative Group, that rather than attack the Government, we would instead work in collaboration to ensure that every desk across Whitehall was aware of the acute issues facing adult social care and children’s services. Our lobbying efforts were relentless and alongside colleagues in the County Councils Network and District Councils Network, we were pleased that the Treasury granted local authorities an additional £600m towards vital services.