The Conservatives may have stepped back from the brink of disaster by postponing cuts to the budget for supporting Young Carers – young people who devote incredible love and care to looking after their relatives who are disabled or otherwise in need of constant support.

The way this decision has been trumpeted to the press is thoroughly misleading. The Conservative councillor in charge gives the impression that he wants to improve the service rather than cut it. “Our current service is patchy and we need to improve it”.

Well, we discovered at the Somerset County Council meeting last week just why it was patchy. He had deliberately failed to reappoint front-line staff providing vital support, when they left, or provide cover for long-term absence. Now we know.

The reinstatement of a £75,000 cut is just a temporary measure, taken from reserves because he has been forced to think again. It all needs to be put in the context of the rest of the £582,000 cut in “integrated services for children and families” that was taken, with another £581,000 planned for next year.