I RETURNED home at 4.30am last Friday having observed what was probably the most important political/democratic event in my life.

At 6am my daughter Michelle rang to say that Cambridge had voted to remain, and I suppose in households the length and breadth of the country similar conversations were happening, just not that early in the morning.

The people have spoken and whatever side of this referendum you supported you accept the outcome of the democratic process. The vote was the easy bit, the practical reality of leaving is going to be the difficult bit, and if the past week is anything to go by it will be a long journey.

The relationship we have with the European Union remains uncertain and perhaps a calming period will develop, our major political parties must get their act together so that our country can move forward.

It is so easy to think that the vote will not have an immediate impact upon our council, however there are ominous signs, utterances about austerity and it is impossible at this moment to judge whether it will be short term or long term.

I can state with certainty that council leaders will be very concerned. I have written in the past about our preparation of the budget strategy for the next four years.

We are in the top 10 of the worst hit councils in the country with savings of £2.3m to be made. Any further austerity based on the government's funding policy would make life very difficult for councils such as ours, with a low council tax base and high levels of social need.

We have contacted the other nine councils in the hope that together, with the Local Government Association support, we can put our case to government. We face a time where we must not take risks, we need to protect our reserves to level out the fluctuation that will occur in the future. I suppose there will be many more sleepless nights as our future unfolds, and I am sure there will be good news among the uncertainty.

Councillor Dave Pidduck – Leader of Barrow Borough Council