Earlier this week, the Government set out it’s roadmap for easing the Covid-19 restrictions across England.

Unlike last year, where different parts of the country were placed in different tiers with different rules, this time, due to the relatively uniform spread of the virus across the country, restrictions will be eased step-by-step across the whole of England at the same time.

The Government has made clear that the restrictions will begin to be eased from March 8, with each further step through the year being based on a judgement about the vaccine deployment programme continuing successfully, infection rates being kept under control and any risks associated with new variants in the virus.

The good news is that our hard work as a community is paying off and case rates are coming down. The Government has now set out a pathway to steadily return to normality.

We must continue to keep at it in the coming months, following the rules, doing our bit to get us out the other side together as quickly as we can.

For North Somerset Council, our focus also turns to the future and how we can help our community come back better and stronger.

Despite more than a decade of austerity measures and the impact of the current pandemic we are still delivering, developing and improving services for local people.

The past year has brought new challenges for all of us, but through our new council budget we are committed to putting the council on a sound financial footing by resolving legacy issues and looking to the future.

Areas of investment include local community infrastructure, business, tourism and cultural recovery, the climate emergency, active travel, and improving outcomes for vulnerable adults and children.

Like everywhere, the pandemic has changed things locally, bringing new social, health, environmental and economic challenges to address.

The budget protects the services that will help our communities to recover and thrive while also investing in tangible projects that will bring quality to people’s lives and make North Somerset a better place to live – both now and in the future.

North Somerset Council leader Don Davies and deputy leader Mike Bell.