Are councils simply there to deliver the bare minimum - basic services at the lowest possible cost, writes Emily Young, Lib-Dem East Hampshire District Councillor for Alton Westbrooke. Or are they expected to do more — such as shaping local identity, supporting vibrant communities, boosting the economy, and enhancing everyday life? Most people would say the latter. We pay council tax expecting more than just bins and bureaucracy. We expect leadership that invests in people and place - not just the bottom line. Councils should champion livelihoods, culture, climate resilience, local enterprise, and community wellbeing.
