With talk of the Conservatives losing 1000 seats at next week’s local elections there are going to be a very large number of new kids on the block – many winning seats to their surprise - with little experience of being elected members or how to run large public organisations.

In particular the new intake will have to learn how to deal with council officers and directors in a highly regulated system. They will be in a hurry to get manifesto commitments underway and may feel frustrated at what they regard as too many rules, too much small-c conservatism and a perceived lack of dynamism among officers. Heads at the top may roll as they often do as new administrations sweep into power. All this creates an opportunity for conflict between new members and officers – and fears of a bullying culture.