Low-key local elections in England that make a real difference

While the general election will be centre stage on Thursday, outside London in most of the rest of England, voters will also be deciding who will run the services that will have a direct impact on them day-to-day.

In 279 English local authorities, residents will elect councillors to the task of managing services such as schools, refuse collection and planning at a time of shrinking budgets.

"We all obsess about the Westminster election but in terms of what will make an impact on the stuff you care about day to day, local elections are more important," says Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit, a think-tank.

If predictions of an indecisive national result are proved right, it is local government that will keep the show on the road, Mr Carr-West adds. "The stuff that makes the world go round will continue because local government will make it happen."

The politics of local councils have national resonance; without a local power base, parties find it much harder to build or hold on to the support they need to win seats in Westminster.

In 161 of the councils, all the seats are up for grabs and in the rest, one-third. The electoral battles are widely spread in English urban, rural and coastal areas and there are also six mayoral elections.

Of the 279 councils, the Conservatives control 136, Labour 78, the Liberal Democrats eight and a residents' association one. In 56, there is no overall control.

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The UK Independence party hopes to gain up to 400 councillors, doubling its total. "We will remind Labour of their mortality in the north," the party said.

Results to watch include Brighton & Hove, currently the only council run by the Green party. Caroline Lucas, the lone Green MP, is seeking re-election in the Brighton Pavilion constituency.

Hinckley & Bosworth has a slim Lib Dem majority but the Conservatives are not far behind.

Rotherham council is strongly Labour. This is a contest with all seats up for the vote. The council's poor record on handling child sexual exploitation could provide an upswing of support for Ukip.

In Thanet and Great Yarmouth, Ukip are pitching for big gains. Party leader Nigel Farage is standing as MP for South Thanet.

<>One thing is certain; those who are elected councillors on Thursday face a tough time. "Over the last five years it's been a pretty brutal, thankless task," says Mr Carr-West.

Over the last parliament, central government funding to local authorities in England has been cut on average by 40 per cent, according to the Local Government Association and whoever is elected to Westminster, more cuts are expected.

Local government accounts for a quarter of public spending in England; in 2014-15, its revenue expenditure was budgeted to be £98.8bn. It is also one of England's largest employers, with 1.6m full-time equivalent staff.

While some councillors have political ambitions, many are motivated, Mr Carr-West believes, by altruism. "I think in most cases it's a genuine public service calling. People want to serve their communities."

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