IN May, people across Glasgow will be voting in the council elections.

The city will elect 85 councillors to the City Chambers to deal with services like education, social work, roads, refuse collections and recycling as well as implement strategies to grow the city’s economy and create jobs and attract investment.

The Evening Times is bringing you city-wide coverage of the elections whose standing, whose standing down, who could be in the plush Leader’s Office overlooking George Square with a multi- billion pound budget to deal with.  There will be a fierce contest for control of the council with the SNP looking to take power from Labour for the first time ever in Scotland’s biggest city. Glasgow is the big prize in local government and the SNP see it as the final piece in the jigsaw of political combination in Scotland, short of independence.

The nationalists, led by Susan Aitken, need to up their councillors from 30 to more than 40 to take over in what would be a truly historic victory.

Labour are desperate to hold on to its last big stronghold and as use it as a base to rebuild and could look to enter a coalition with another party if no party emerges with overall control. It currently has 40 members, including the Lord Provost, and would need to hold on to all of them and add three more to keep overall control.

Glasgow City Council has been Labour since local government reorganisation in 1996 and the party has been in overall control of the Chambers,when it was Glasgow District Council, since 1980.

The Conservatives will be expecting to increase their group from the sole councillor, David Meikle, to actually have a group in the chambers and the Greens will want to build on their recent strong showings and bolster their influence and possibly be the king makers in any coalition deal.

Between now and the election our reporters are out in the communities and in the high streets across the city speaking to the people who matter, the voters and council tax payers, to find out what you think and what needs to improve and change.

We are asking your views on the local issues that affect everyday life, what you like and what frustrates you.

It could be care of the elderly at home, parking at the school gates, business rates on the high street, litter in streets or upkeep of our parks, that gets your blood boiling.

We want to hear what you think your council tax and the money the council gets from the Scottish Government should be spent on.

We will look at the big issues that the council deals with and the challenges that will face the administration, whoever is in charge, once the ballots boxes are emptied and the votes are counted on May 5.

Today we start with the Anderston/City ward and will then speak to people in the council wards covering every corner of the city.

The council has been restructured to increase from 21 to 23 wards, each electing either three or four councillors for the election this year.

The politicians will have their say but first we want the people to let them know what they are seeing on a daily basis and what action is required.

With debate about the future of council services with diminishing budgets and where cash should be prioritised, the council elections as are relevant than ever..

On these pages the Evening Times aims to bring you the most informative and comprehensive coverage  up until and after the results come in.