The nights are drawing in, the storms have been blowing and this coming weekend the clocks will go back.

But it is also a time of year that shows up the beauty of nature with our trees turning a thousand shades of red, yellow, orange and brown.

It is a time that lends itself to reflection and to take stock.

But unlike the trees, this is not a pretty thought for any local authority: we are all facing crippling financial pressures.

Over the border, some councils have been forced to declare themselves effectively bankrupt.

So far, no council in Wales has found itself in this position, but the pressures are acute and being felt everywhere.

Since way back in 2010 councils across the UK have found themselves bearing the brunt of the Tories’ austerity policies, forcing them to rationalise and reduce the services offered to residents.

But, as you are also finding, recently it has got so much worse.

Inflation over the last 18 months is combined with higher interest rates. This has cut a very significant scar into our budget, too. Add to this the continuing after-effects of the Covid pandemic on service demand for both adults and children and we have a perfect storm.

In Monmouthshire we are certainly seeing our share of this and at the same time the demand for our services is increasing.

They have had to be met out of existing budgets, which were not set to cope with such extremes.

We have seen huge increases in the cost of home-to-school transport, heating our schools and swimming pools and the cost of collecting waste… and that’s just three of many examples.

As you are seeing on the supermarket shelves, the price of everything has gone up.

When it comes to supplying services, there is a phrase that you may have heard used: "salami slicing".

It is an evocative way of describing what local authorities have had to do year after year, looking for thin slivers of savings here, there and everywhere. But now in Monmouthshire there is no more sausage to slice. We are looking for fundamental changes to the way we do things.

Most councils would or could turn to their financial reserves in such circumstances.

We cannot, because instead of building up our reserves when the council was not under pressure, the previous Conservative administration kept council tax artificially low by using the council’s reserves.

They didn’t mend the roof while the sun was shining. Now it is leaking badly and no savings account is available here.

Thankfully, in Monmouthshire we have a great team of officers who are working with my team to find solutions to protect our public services, and while the road ahead may be tricky, I’m confident that we’ll keep delivering for our residents.

It isn’t going to be easy, it certainly isn’t going to be painless, but we are resourceful, resilient and determined. We’ll get there.