For many of our member councils, the funding announced at the back-end of last year has meant 2019 began with a little more optimism than 12 months ago. Yet despite the Budget announcements, we should be under no illusions that the financial challenges facing the sector have disappeared.

While the County Councils' Network (CCN) will be making a positive case for its members across social care, housing, regional growth, public service reform and devolution – particularly in relation to the long-trialled ‘common devolution framework' – finance will dominate our activity.