Our Prime Minister assured us from the steps of Downing Street that the new Government will unite and level up our nation. This cannot happen too soon for our councils.

The Conservative party manifesto focused attention on services which it considered impacted most on the lives of citizens, especially the health service and police. The NHS particularly has, rightly, come in for praise and promises of financial support. But Government must understand that councils too are an essential element of our social infrastructure. Financial support for the NHS and the police will achieve no improvement in the quality of peoples' lives if essential council services are not recognised and adequately funded as well.