I don't think I am the first former politician to say that stepping away and doing something different provides a different perspective. The last 18 months as a civilian has taught me that I did overestimate the extent to which local residents have any idea – or really care about – what's going on in their council.

While we – including myself now as a local resident – soon notice and rightly care very much if our bins aren't emptied, a pothole appears, or there is a planning proposal that will have a direct impact on the local area, we don't necessarily follow the twists and turns of daily council life.