Even the most optimistic – and I use that word lightly - economic forecasts indicate public finances will be under severe strain for the foreseeable future meaning the pressure on council budgets is unlikely to abate any time soon.

While the local government finance settlement brought welcome – and much-needed – additional funding for the sector, the headline figures mask the fact the majority of it is being used to contend with the increased demand, and rising costs, in social care services. And even then this additional funding is mostly just a sticking plaster which, in all likelihood, will need reapplying next year and beyond while we await more fundamental reform. This all means that most other directorates and service areas are still having to find cuts and new ways of working to help balance the books.