A shifting political atmosphere is putting power in the hands of the inexperienced, warns Robert Ashton.

I guess it’s the nature of democracy to sometimes be surprised by election results. Much has already been written about the surge in popularity of UKIP. But rather than comment on the politics, I have been thinking about the practicalities. You see in a number of local authorities, where there is no overall majority, the casting votes are effectively now held by people new to the politics.

Norfolk County Council, my own local authority, has been Tory controlled for generations. But now that majority has been shattered by UKIP. Moreover, by one single vote in one Thetford division, the traditional party of opposition, Labour, was pushed into third place. It’s fascinating stuff, but again from a practical point of view, it puts a massive responsibility on the shoulders of a group of individuals who, with very few exceptions, have no Council experience whatsoever.

So what does this mean for those working around the fringes of local government? How will these newly elected local politicians manage the deluge of information heading their way? They not only have to learn the protocols and past and present practices. They have to grapple with the challenge of austerity too.

Growing demand for services and diminishing income are the ingredients of innovation. But innovation requires risk, and to take risks you need to be confident you fully understand the context. Of course hung Councils can also mean more thorough debate, but only in my view if party politics are put to one side. Too much argument and progress will slow and nobody can afford that!

The one thing every elected member knows well is his or her Division. It is often a very local issue that prompted them to stand for election. Perhaps that is where everyone needs to focus; indeed, perhaps it’s where the focus should have been all along!