It's a good time to consider the theme of the recent Solace in the South conference, following the excitement of the local elections that some of us held this month in our roles as temporary custodians of the flame of democracy. It might help crystallise the thinking of my new administration.

Certainly, district councils are elected bodies with democratic legitimacy, and powerful advocates for our places and the people in them. But do our communities, and our elected representatives care about more than just the critical frontline services that Mo Baines of the Association for Public Service Excellence neatly described as ‘bins, bogs and burials'?