We pride ourselves on our approach to financial management and since we came into existence in 2009, we've reduced our running costs by £185m. This has not been through cuts to services but through working differently and being prudent with our money. 

Like all other upper-tier councils, this year we faced preparing a budget with a huge £16.5m increase in costs due to inflation alongside meeting the financial pressures from the rising demand for adult social care and children's services. Approximately half of our revenue budget is spent on these two services already.