Councils are key to bring you essential services

– schools, nurseries, staffing, buildings, museums, pools and sports centres, childcare, psychological services, halls and community facilities, libraries

- community care, children and family services - roads, public transport, economic development, flood prevention and building control - refuse collection and disposal, street lighting, food safety, health promotion, animal welfare, maintenance of parks and cemeteries

- allocation and maintenance of public housing, homeless provision, rent collection and capital investment

- annual budgets for managing income and spending, financial reports, collection of council tax and non-domestic rates

Make it count It will be a busy time at polling stations across the country

Polling Day Getting the message across