There is no doubt that we are living in exceptional times, with the challenges of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting to Brexit and addressing significant funding constraints, all combining to make for an uncertain future.

Our vision and our aims are unchanged and undiminished – and we have to transform to deliver within the new economic climate to provide the leadership that our communities and our place need.

So we are turning these challenges into new opportunities.

By investing now, not only will we underpin our region’s growth out of recession, but we will respond positively to macroeconomic and social drivers and be well positioned to attract people and businesses looking to locate in a modern region with wellbeing at its heart.