February is budget month in local government and this year has been particularly difficult, with both Charnwood and Leicestershire having faced significant cost increases due to covid over the last 12 months whilst also seeing income plummet.  I always keep how the Council’s financial decisions affect people front and centre in my thinking and that has never been more true than this year.  We have therefore agreed budgets which as far as possible balance the need to protect services with the financial impact on families.