"We finally realised that our economy relies on people..."

As 2020 draws to a close, it's an opportunity to reflect on a year that has caused huge upheavals and emotions for all households in this area.

The year was dominated by the global Covid-19 pandemic and its impact in terms of health, jobs and across every aspect of our daily lives.

For those who have lost loved ones or have suffered the long-term effects of Covid, this will have been a very difficult year. For those whose mental health has suffered as a result of enforced isolation, this will have been equally difficult. For those whose livelihoods and businesses have been disrupted or even destroyed, there will be hope that 2021 will bring better news.

Amid all the heartache and difficulties, there have been glimmers of hope and positivity.

We finally realised that our economy relies on people - on key workers who graft 24/7 to keep food on our shelves, to care for our sick and elderly, to ensure deliveries are made and that we all stay safe. These unsung heroes finally got some recognition - it was often just a doorstep clap and we must ensure they get properly rewarded for their work as we emerge from this pandemic.

We also discovered that the past decade of austerity - which saw public services such as health and public protection scaled back - left us in a weakened position to respond to such a crisis. During those 10 years, we were constantly told there was no magic money tree to fund services. Yet the pandemic showed that money can miraculously appear when it's needed.

That money to furlough workers and to keep businesses afloat has been essential as lockdown has followed firebreak and further lockdown. Hospitality in particular has been battered in the past 10 months. Funding will hopefully mean that workers and enterprises can survive into the spring and summer as we get back to some kind of post-vaccine normality, and it's vital that those groups who have missed out on support because they don't fit neatly into categories are not excluded. I know UKExcluded is one campaign that's done some sterling work on this matter.

What's not been good value for money have been the shady contracts awarded to friends and associates of the UK Government - people with no experience of procuring PPE were given huge contracts without having to tender for them. Surprise, surprise, many have failed to deliver. There will have to be a reckoning once the crisis is over and I'm convinced that will see people in court for misusing public money.

The worsening infection rates in both Wrexham and Flintshire are an ongoing concern and the advice to mix and mingle as little as possible over the festive period will be difficult to take but essential for our future wellbeing. Clarity and consistency of messaging is important now - something I accept is difficult to always provide given the changing dynamics of a pandemic.

I did consider closing this column with a mention of Brexit but I suspect people have had enough bad news for one year.

I'd like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas with whoever you are able to celebrate it with. And let's hope that the New Year is a happier and healthier one than 2020 managed to be.