It was in 2000, as leader of Kettering BC, while trying to establish the new democratic structures, I first used the term ‘frontline' instead of ‘backbench' councillor. And it is still used today.

However, the word has gone past its sell-by date and things have moved on. In 2006, with no sign that all the investment in training has had anything like the impact first envisaged, the needs of our communities have changed, and with that, the role of councillors. It is still true that frontline councillors are crucial to improving service delivery at a local level. And we would have achieved far more had we focused on the role of these councillors and less on leadership, executives and mayors.