Taking a long hard look at what 'democracy', 'citizenship' and 'ethics' really mean in local government in the second decade of the 21st Century may seem like a luxury when councils are struggling to empty the bins, house the homeless, care for elderly residents and meet a million other demands with ever fewer resources.

But reclaiming the vital connection between the mightiest of principles upon which local government was founded and day to day actions that matter to local people is the best way for local authorities to take control in these difficult times.

APSE's launch of 'Reclaiming Local Democracy' by Ines Newman, visiting senior research fellow at De Montfort University, was a welcome chance to reflect upon the principles that guide local government decision-making – rather than the pragmatics of the decisions themselves.