Deep and ongoing government cuts have meant that Copeland Borough Council continues to make significant savings, to date the council has reduced its expenditure by 40 per cent. This, together with my top to bottom review of all the council’s finances revealed that there is £13m less monies than when I took office.

The remaining part of the council has been reviewed this year, known as the Support Services. Although, as with other reviews, sadly there will be compulsory redundancies (less than five), I am however pleased to say that, even having saved £400,000, we have also introduced new apprenticeships, and other opportunities for staff development and progression. Also, as part of our budget for 2016/17, we are investing in front line services, such as waste while continuing to make efficiencies across the whole of the council.

Of course, I know all too well the impact of job losses on individuals and their families. I am mindful that the pace at which the council needs to change is set by central government and for me, in order that Copeland Borough Council can effectively deliver first class services to our deserving residents, I will drive my ambition for a lean and efficient, cost effective council.

In 2017 as mayor I want to see our commercialisation aspirations begin to bring the return that will replace the lost revenue from government. This means that we must seek out commercial opportunities whenever we can. This was a manifesto commitment and it is one which I find very exciting as we move forward.

This year the council has been consulted on several highly important proposals. The Success Regime Consultation document has been robustly answered with the clear message that we require key medical services to be retained and indeed enhanced at West Cumberland Hospital. There is no community mood for compromise.

We continue to work with NuGen and National Grid to ensure that we secure the best deal for our community through the billions of pounds of investment proposed in our borough. As I have stated several times, it is very important that as many residents as possible also respond to the consultation documents and express their views.

As a Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership Board Member I am working with our officers and Britain’s Energy Coast to secure as much funding as possible to regenerate our town centres – a key pillar of our corporate strategy. A significant bid has been made for Whitehaven town centre which, if successful will be transformational.

Our Social Inclusion programme continues apace and following the launch of our Social Isolation and Pre-birth and Beyond projects, we are now developing a collaboration to support the victims and causes of domestic violence which is a problem in the borough. I will talk more about this next year.

It’s been a very full and busy year. I want to thank you all for your support and take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy, peaceful and successful 2017.

Mike Starkie, elected mayor of Copeland