Do you remember your first day at school? I was born in spring, and so for me, my first school day was in January. As I was walking in with my mum in my obligatory grey school shorts, it started to snow heavily.

This time of year can have a ‘back to school’ feel in many Town Halls. After the local elections, new councillors arrive for inductions and others return, hopefully with a renewed commitment to serving their residents.

When I was first elected as Mayor in 2018, one of my first meetings was with the other council leaders in Hertfordshire. Back then I was one of two Liberal Democrat council leaders, and apart from one Labour leader, the other eight were all Conservatives. After the recent set of local elections, there will be just two Conservative council leaders in the whole county and up to five Liberal Democrats. Quite a change in only a few years.

From my recent conversations with residents during the election it is easy to see why. After 13 years of Conservative government many people feel fed up. Every day we experience public services that are struggling to cope – roads full of potholes, too few police officers and health services in desperate need of investment. At the same time, household budgets are under huge pressure with bills soaring.

Whenever the next general election arrives, I know residents will be looking for change.

  • Peter Taylor is the elected Mayor of Watford