WITH borough council elections in May, it is time to look at the track records of the political parties that have been controlling local councils. Tempting as it is to use this vote to pass judgement on the government's performance in Westminster, very different criteria need to be applied when assessing the local scene.

Both Richmond upon Thames and Hounslow Council have been under the control of the same parties for many years now - Richmond upon Thames run by the Liberal Democrats since 1983, while Hounslow's domination by the Labour Party dates back to the 1970s. In Kingston, the Conservatives have run a minority administration since 1998 on a hung council, even though they are no longer the largest party following a series of defections.

With mounting public cynicism about politicians and fewer people bothering to vote, we need to re-evaluate the structure of local government and whether it is working efficiently .

Cabinet style administration and the possibility of more elected mayors means there is a state of flux. What is of paramount importance, however, is that those representing our interests should share our problems on a daily basis and have had long experience of the standards of public service provided.

Political parties are in many ways inappropriate to arrange tasks like refuse collection, provision of swimming pools and public parks, or the maintenance of schools and the planning of new developments.

In today's world, environmental considerations are paramount and these should transcend politics. Policies regarding roads, public transport, green space, cycle tracks affect us every day of our lives. Issues like the revitalisation of the corner shops, the small pub and family restaurants, are key to our living standards.

Good husbandry is clearly vital too, but buying popularity by slashing council tax to a level where it cannot sustain vital social services is the road to ruin, social discontent and community break down.

We need to appoint people who will not pander to mob rule or the short term hysteria of those with vested interests - whether it be the motorist, property speculator or the wealthy home owner. We need men and women of vision to view community needs dispassionately and prepared to introduce unpopular measures that are for the public good, using compromise and compassion.

It has to be said that in Richmond upon Thames, the Lib Dems' philosophy of pavement level involvement by the use of consultation and public debate has stood them in good stead for nearly two decades.

Overall, they have generated councillors of intelligence and maturity who by and large have taken a statesman like stance on most of the key issues that have been faced.

Hounslow, in the hands of the socialists including a powerful but well integrated Asian representation, has also handled affairs of the borough justly and confidently.

Hounslow's boundaries are elongated and unwieldy - embracing the super affluence of Chiswick with the environmental deprivation of those on the edge of Heathrow. It is a hard borough to handle - 12 miles long and a mixture of suburban gentility and urban squalor - but Labour has risen to the challenge and the opposition has to date made few inroads.

Kingston, back in the hands of the Conservatives, has had a gruelling task balancing scarce resources with the need to enhance services, but has come up with popular innovations such as the Streets Ahead package of environmental improvements for the borough.

In a couple of months time people will have to decide if new brooms are required or if they are happy with the status quo - flawed though it may be.

There is a public perception that local government is boring and irrelevant. Nothing could be further from the truth. The United Kingdom is one of the world's most stable regions thanks to our mature nurtured democracy. By using our votes we honour those who gave their lives to establish our freedoms.

Quote of the Week

"If parents would prefer to see cuts across the whole age range rather than concentrated in reception classes then we are prepared to accept that view."

- Council leader John Connelly reveals the council has yielded to pressure and scrapped plans to get rid of nursery nurses.