We should get a sense of what voters in key electoral battlegrounds are feeling about the main parties. There are some key tests for Labour.
A worrying picture is already emerging of parents being unable to get their children into their school of choice.
From next May, all vans, buses, coaches, taxis, and heavy goods vehicles will have to pay a daily charge to travel in the area.
These elections were very good indeed for the Conservatives – though there are warning signs of a potential Blue Wall effect in the south.
The fourth in a series of pieces on ConHome this week, looking forward to the elections this spring.
There have been delays in sending payments to businesses. Rubbish collections have been missed.
Labour has increased the Council Tax, doubled the number of senior officials, and seen Children’s Services go from “outstanding“ to being placed in special measures.
They’ll bank what good news they can get, but net losses of councillors and authorities is not what they had hoped for.
York, Derby High Peak, Gravesham, Amber Valley, and Basildon are among the councils where the Tories face losing power.
Conservatives failed to win people over to building hundreds of new homes on a former golf course.
The second part of our series this week on May’s elections, moving on to the metropolitan areas that are electing in thirds.
UKIP’s decline will probably allow the three main parties to each claim an increased vote share. Afterwards, the Tories will still be the largest party in local government.
As Labour councils around us abolish libraries, we’re building new ones. We are working flat out to win the local elections. Our message is: “Keep moving forward.”
These local elections will make a big difference to people’s lives. Join me on the campaign trail.