EARLIER this week on a day off, I sat down for 10 minutes in a park in Glasgow. As I looked across the pond, I could see the local library, a primary school and in between, one of the busiest roads in Glasgow.
From the spot I was sitting in, to pretty much all I could see was services delivered by the local council. That same day the annual council tax bill dropped though the letterbox.
All over the city people would open their bills for the year and they would see an increase on last year of 3% and some would face an even higher hike if they were in the highest bands.
Many would no doubt wonder ‘what do I get for this hefty chunk of my hard earned cash?’
The council is responsible for a huge amount of services that affect almost everyone every single day.
From the pavement you walk on and the roads you drive on, to the rubbish you put out. 
Schools, care of the elderly, social work, and regeneration to facilitate housing and investment for jobs are just some of the responsibilities of the council. All under the direction of the councillors you will elect on May 4.
That is those who will bother to vote.
It has always struck me as strange that the elections to the body that is responsible for the services that are closest to people’s lives attracts the lowest turnout.
Yet people are quick to complain about councils, whether it is councillors or officials.
This year the election will probably attract a higher than usual turnout but it is unlikely to be because of greater interest in the services run by the council.
At every election national issues and political personalities always influence voters, which is natural given their prominence.
The campaign has begun for this year’s elections, manifestos published and rosettes dusted down for doorstep campaigning.
The temptation is for this to be a proxy independence referendum to send a message to either the Tory UK Government or SNP Scottish Government whether you want a second vote or not. But council services face an uncertain future. Sustained and significant budget cuts have reduced staff and cut services to the point where councils will have to decide what they can realistically afford to provide.
The election has to focus on the services councils provide and how they are funded and on the council candidates who want your vote.
There will be meetings across the city in the run up to the election.
Hopefully they will be full and people can engage face to face with the candidates in their own communities.
At the Evening Times we want to play our part too. We’ve been out in your communities asking people what they think and there is no doubt people have opinions.
We are also holding a special council election hustings with leading candidates taking your questions. If you want to hear from them and tell them what you think, get a ticket and come along. You will be most welcome. For tickets contact Lyndsay Wilson on 0141 302 7407 or e-mail Lyndsay.wilson@heraldandtimes.co.uk