We start this year more than most with a sigh of relief to put the old year behind us.

Although we are in Tier 4, and undoubtedly the coming months will continue to be challenging, we have got to hope that 2021 will bring a better year for all.

The wonderful scientists who have developed vaccinations against Covid have given us hope for a return towards normality, meaning 2021 presents us with the chance to look and plan ahead with some optimism.

For the council, there will be some difficult decisions to make with a tough budget to set, a Government inspection report to respond to, and the need to look ahead to ensure financial stability as our biggest priority in the long-term. Our main financial challenges ? austerity and the impact of Covid ? are shared by all councils across the country, but we will aim to protect key services while having to rethink the scope of what the council can provide.

That doesn?t mean we will lose our ambition to do the best for Nottingham. We remain absolutely committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2028, for example, and have made excellent progress towards that target already, with our far-ranging action plan. We need everyone to play their part in this. The council is leading by example ? installing solar panels on our buildings and greening our vehicle fleet ? as well as helping others to do the same. We are using a massive ?161m Government grant to carry out huge transport improvements that will help, like expanding the electric charging point network to encourage take-up of electric vehicles, as well as the new footbridge with cycle lane to be built across the River Trent to encourage active travel from Nottingham?s newest community at Waterside, in Colwick.

This development at Trent Basin ? which will also be home to a brand new school ? is not the only new housing development in town. The council through Nottingham City Homes expects to build a further 300 new council houses in 2021 and there are plenty of other developments under way or in the pipeline this year. The Island Quarter is an exciting scheme that brings businesses and housing together on a large site that has been derelict for years, there is further development planned in and around Sneinton Market and new offices and housing in the Southside.

Our own Southside schemes will continue and I think 2021 will be the year when we?ll see just how transformational they will be. The dreary, ugly old Broadmarsh car park is being replaced by a striking modern building more befitting of this city gateway. The work that will carry on in the streets around it will change the look and feel of the area beyond recognition ? traffic-choked multi-lane roads replaced in favour of calm, pleasant public spaces full of trees and plants where people will want to linger and enjoy the surroundings. At one end of this area, we have the wonderful new Nottingham College building and at the other, the redeveloped Nottingham Castle attraction. 2021 is the year that many of these changes will come together, while we plan how the Broadmarsh Centre site will complement and enhance them.

With a difficult year behind us, there?s much to look forward to in the new year ahead.