More children and young people coming into care. More with additional learning needs. More vulnerable adults. More older people with severe dementia. More homelessness. As more complex and endlessly rising demand could consume almost every penny, the scope for prevention trends to zero.

None of this is unique to Cardiff, it's the challenge to all local authorities with social care responsibilities. The system is bust – the Prime Minister says so – and more money, even if there was any, would only postpone more misery. It's not a matter of finding efficiencies or trimming the fat, that time has long gone, the only answer is to find a better way.