Harry Fone: Reserves should be used to limit Council Tax rises. If this isn’t a “rainy day”, what is?

Plus: Why are Police and Crime Commissioners asking for more money for keyrings and stress balls?

Why the Government is under pressure to confirm the date of the local elections

Moving them would require primary legislation, but despite bullish official pronouncements there is little certainty that we’ll be voting in May.

Mark Shelford: Independent Police and Crime Commissioners are less accountable than party politicians

Their appeasement of unlawful protestors has gone unchallenged. A democratic party structure delivers checks and balances.

Amanda Milling: We’re delivering on our promises – and couldn’t do it without grassroots support

If not for your efforts on the doorstep and the endless nights of telephone canvassing, we would not have defeated Corbyn’s Labour Party a year ago.

Matthew Barber: A new approach to defeat drug crime

In the Thames Valley, those under 18 caught with drugs are given an education programme, with sanctions if they refuse to attend.

Festus Akinbusoye: What serving as a Special Constable taught me about 21st-century policing

My front-line experience will be invaluable to me if I am elected to serve as Bedfordshire’s next Police and Crime Commissioner.

Frank Young: What drug dealers really think about legalising drugs

The solution to the problems they described isn’t debate over regulation – but scaling up programmes that focus on young people heading for the clink.

WATCH: Javid on an EU trade deal, local government reform, police commissioners, skills, Black Lives Matter…

The full video of ConHome’s joint event with UK in a Changing Europe for the Party Conference.

The Conservatives should watch for a rival to their right

That was the norm of the past ten years, in the form of Farage’s parties. There’s no reason to assume that a new challenger won’t emerge.

Marc Jones: Sobriety tags on offenders who commit crimes while under the influence of alcohol can makes us safer

There is no doubt that innovation is needed to tackle a problem which is a blight on communities across the UK.

Jay Singh-Sohal: I’m promising our West Midlands communities a robust response to crime

My Labour opponent joined a Black Lives Matter rally in Birmingham during lockdown, to bend the knee alongside those who seek to defund the police.

Matthew Barber: The police must tackle non-violent crime too

If the bicycle that is stolen is someone’s only means of getting to work, then there is significant harm.

Alicia Kearns: Levelling up must mean protecting our rural communities

Agricultural vehicle and land rover theft is up by over a quarter. We need to stamp out serious organised crime in our countryside.

Judy Terry: Suffolk has shown has small charities can make a big difference in helping the vulnerable

A Community Foundation in the county helps the old with insulation improvements and the young to turn away from knife crime.

Sandy Verma: Labour has let Leicester down

It is the Conservatives who have spoken out over illegal and dangerous exploitation at local factories.