I have spoken at length about how Trafford Council prides itself on the number of services it delivers despite being under-funded when compared with other authorities. 

I am often asked what a council actually does – and that is a good question!

I am proud to lead an organisation that is on the frontline when it comes to delivering support services that touch the lives of everyone, every day.

Some services are obvious, such as emptying bins, maintaining street lighting, looking after our parks and green spaces and managing our roads and pavements.  The One Trafford Partnership is responsible for most of this work, which I know is important to all Trafford residents.

Other services are sometimes less obvious, except from those affected, and can range from social care, supporting children and welfare rights advice. 

In addition, we have teams working hard in public health, sport and leisure, planning, regeneration, licensing, community safety, housing and enforcement.  And let us not forget our wonderful libraries, music service and culture offer – including the Waterside Arts Centre.  Each service plays an incredibly important part within communities. 

The services Trafford Council deliver are as vast as they are varied, and each sector comes with its own responsibilities and functions – far more than I can address here.

But our successes cannot be achieved in isolation – we regularly collaborate with private and public organisations to deliver the services that matter the most to local communities.

We also work very closely with our incredibly vibrant Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector.

Partnership work is important, recent examples include issuing closure orders in the Trafford area where there have been concerns around illegal activity and anti-social behaviour.

And more recently, in a bid to support local communities – and following recommendations from the Poverty Truth Commission – Stretford Advice Hub was set up by the council and a range of partners to help tackle poverty and support those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

The centre, based at Stretford Public Hall, has made a huge difference to peoples’ lives by offering a range of specialist support to families and individuals on issues including energy bills, care, money worries, housing, and health.

And this is all set against a backdrop of crippling financial pressures exacerbated by increased costs to deliver even the basic of services.

I make no apologies for making this statement again: local authorities have borne the brunt of the deepest cuts to public spending under the previous government’s austerity measures.

Most authorities are having to do so much more with less – and Trafford Council is no exception. 

However, despite the many challenges we face as a local authority, I remain ambitious for Trafford – a place I’m proud to call my home.

Tom Ross is the leader of Trafford Council.