Every four years the county council elections are held up and down the country. As Conservatives we are coming to end of selecting our candidates. I met them all recently and I was impressed with their calibre.

Candidates are selection by the associations, not by the existing councillors. Every four years many councillors step down for personal reasons. Some find the long hours they contribute, being a councillor, too much when trying to hold down a job and spend time with the family.

Sometimes councillors are not reselected. This usually only happens when it is felt they have not really contributed sufficiently or have in one way or another got themselves into bother. This time around the selection process has been tightened up to ensure we get the very best candidates.

I am confident we have a great set of candidates to help run this county after the may elections.