Emily Barley: We achieved a breathrough in Rotherham by being unembarrassed about our strong Conservative values
We will go through Council spending and contracts, line by line, to find waste and get the best possible value for money.
Adrian Mason: Wales needs real devolution. Not Cardiff Bay giving orders.
Local initiatives should not be blocked by the Labour Government. The Levelling Up Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund are very welcome.
John Moss: Digital campaigning must be constant. Not just for a few weeks before an election.
I recently ran an online petition about an unpopular housing development, securing over 600 responses and gathering more than 400 voting intentions.
John Myers: Fixing housing is like the European Super League
The lessons from history are clear. If you give stakeholders no reason to back reform, you will fail.
Harry Fone: Councils have saved millions on their printing bills
With new leadership in many local areas, there is lots of potential for bold and innovative ways to save money.
Susan Hall: We will hold Khan’s feet to the fire
It’s the most powerful directly-elected position in the country with a £19.4 billion budget. But he squandered his first term.
Chris Whitehouse: Don’t extrapolate too much from the Isle of Wight local election results
Despite the Conservatives’ loss of overall control, the results don’t make optimistic reading for either Labour or the Lib Dems.
Adrian Lee: I visit – and find great camaraderie. Strong beliefs. And effective canvassing. Guess where?
Clue: for years, the Party has dismissed both the MP and the Association as slightly eccentric and atypical. But this approach could be replicated elsewhere.
Angela Richardson: Lessons from our local election defeats in Surrey
New housing must strengthen, not undermine a sense of community. Guildford residents don’t want the sort of tower blocks seen in Woking.
Are we seeing a Tory recovery in London?
Bailey performed above expectations. The Council by-elections were good. But we need to build a lot of beautiful new homes.
David Gauke: Demographic changes in the Blue Wall will work against the Conservatives – they must pay close attention
The pandemic is only likely to accelerate the process of these places becoming more graduate-heavy and small L liberal.
Hits and misses. Which targets in the local elections were achieved?
Police and Crime Commissioner elections saw Conservative gains – well beyond reasonable expectations.
James Jamieson: What local authorities are looking for in the Queen’s Speech this week
With a new devolution settlement councils can boost economic growth and provide improvements to the services people rely upon every day.
David Simmonds: Refugee resettlement has been a British success story. Something we must continue.
Councils would benefit from clarity on funding in order to provide sanctuary for more of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Judy Terry: Defeating the scourge of litter is just one example of the power of volunteering
Local authorities should do more to recognise and encourage volunteers – who provide services worth billons of pounds.