Councils have always been good at responding to crises. And while the pace and scale of change driven by the coronavirus epidemic is something else entirely, its core objectives in many ways remain unchanged.

Local government and the wider public sector has rapidly joined forces to focus on the key mission: to support the NHS and save people's lives. This has involved millions of council staff taking on a multitude of new roles, but with a clarity of purpose which binds together workforce, partners and the wider community in a powerful alliance.