END-OF-TERM report and things are looking pretty good at Devon County Council.

I declared three top priorities when I was elected leader. They included sorting children’s services, improving our roads and being an inclusive and outward-looking council.

Our finances have gone from strength to strength. It’s only fair I should thank the government for agreeing to pay off 90 per cent of our accumulated SEND deficit.

Some argue it was their debt in the first place, but in my experience that doesn’t count for much. I’m very grateful and credit where credit’s due.

We had to produce detailed plans around our policies and vision for SEND to get the money. I’m delighted to say they have been accepted with flying colours from government. Excellent work from our excellent officers.

We agreed a record investment in our roads for this year at the budget. It means borrowing money for preventative maintenance. This will include crucial resurfacing and drainage works.

The up-front cost will save us money in the medium and long term. We’ve also instigated a pilot scheme, which has recently been extended and expanded.

Filling, not individual potholes but all defects in a given area. I know it frustrates people more than anything. We share that frustration which is why we instigated this common-sense approach.

And thanks to our grip on finances, we have now been able to allocate an extra £4 million to our roads.

We are determined to move from a managed decline position to an improving situation. I know people want things done immediately but this extra investment needs time to take effect.

I am confident our roads will be better this time next year and then continue to improve year on year.

Devon had been failing our most vulnerable children for far too long. Things are improving. Don’t just take my word for it.

Independent agencies including Ofsted and the government appointed children’s commissioner have recognised the changes, started by the previous administration, and now accelerating.

The whole council has been part of these improvements. We have a settled and permanent senior leadership team and an ambition to grow our own social workers with over 200 applications for the apprenticeship scheme.

All this means less agency staff and consultants. It’s more cost effective but, most importantly, better for our children.

We know there’s still a long way to go and families are still struggling, but our children deserve only the best.

We’ve also been inspected by our council peers. They have also recognised the cultural changes at DCC.

We are looking to work better with our partners as, if we want to achieve the best for residents, effective relationships with others are crucial.

These include the NHS, schools, the police and many more including our fantastic voluntary sector in Devon.

Most of the councillors elected last May were new. Of course, we have our disagreements but the more we work together the more and better we will do.

We are one big team, and we want to deliver for Devon.