The government’s plans for English Devolution and local councils mean Cheltenham’s council is being abolished and replaced by a mega council – Gloucestershire unitary council. This will be one of the biggest councils in the country. In the next few years, we will be put into a new regional mayoral authority, too. Max backs plans to remove power from Westminster and give it to regions and local areas. But there’s a risk that the government's new plans could rob Cheltenham of its historic voice.

Max says that devolution must mean more power for local areas, not less. That means:

• Making sure we have the funding and powers to solve local issues like potholes, SEND, the state of the town centre, waste and recycling, and much more besides

• Ensuring the new Gloucestershire unitary council gives fair funding and a big enough voice to Cheltenham  

• Having a new Cheltenham Town Council to speak up for our local area and retain local ownership of some cherished assets

• Looking after our cherished parks and gardens