In the months since I last wrote on this page our world has changed dramatically. Article 50 has been triggered and we have witnessed horrific terrorist attacks both in Manchester and London. The harrowing Grenfell Tower tragedy is one that will live with us for a generation or more and I believe it will transform the way we view social housing in this country forever.

I was in the audience in Birmingham earlier this month when the Secretary of State addressed the Local Government Association Conference. He told us local government is facing a ‘looming crisis of trust’ saying that ‘you’ll forgive me if…I reflect on what has gone wrong in local government’. We were told to ‘raise our game’. I didn’t see much forgiveness in the room.