The District Councils’ Network’s spring assembly was held in the twilight zone between the local elections on 2 May and the time during which most district councils hold their annual council meetings to formally appoint the administration for the coming year. This is also a year where a larger than usual number of councils had all-out elections so a significant number of councils have experienced a change of control.

As you might imagine, there was much hubbub in the room as officers and members alike compared war stories and there was even talk of a new support group for chief executives working in councils in no overall control. Never has the ability to remain impartial while giving advice to enable political groups to arrive at a position whereby the council can take decisions been more important than in the early aftermath of these turbulent electoral events. Being able to do so in a sleep-deprived state is also an advantage.