When we talk about the 21st century councillor, it’s important to remember there is no single template. As a peer mentor, I see first-hand how much councillors give – and how inconsistent the support is in return. Councillors need tools and officer support to handle the volume, so they can focus on outcomes rather than firefighting. Supporting councillors for the 21st century is not an optional extra; it is essential to the health of our democracy. Liz Green (Lib Dem), former leader of Kingston upon Thames RBC, runs LG Progress Ltd working to improve leadership in local government