Vote 2012: Welsh Lib Dems run on local council record

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will try to highlight their record in local government when they launch their campaign for May's council elections.

Lib Dems say they have delivered in places where they lead local councils.

They will hope to keep control of prized assets such as Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham when voters go to the ballot box on 3 May.

But there has been a big drop in the number of Lib Dem candidates compared with the last elections four years ago.

A manifesto for the election will talk of a "nation of communities," calling for more powers to be devolved from the Welsh government to local councils.

Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams will launch the document - called Better Schools, Better Services, Better Value - in Cardiff later on Monday.

The party says her visit to the St David's shopping centre shows how the city's economy has been boosted under a Lib Dem-led council.

I am extremely proud of our record in local councils all across Wales”

She said: "I am extremely proud of our record in local councils all across Wales.

"Welsh Liberal Democrats know that times are tough. The family budget is stretched and that is why, while delivering top class services, Welsh Liberal Democrat-led councils have consistently kept council tax rises low."

She pointed to a budget deal which she struck with the Welsh government last year which provides an extra £450 for every child receiving free school meals.

The Lib Dems go into the election defending some 140 seats.

But they are fielding around a quarter fewer candidates than they did the last time Wales' 1,200 council seats were up for grabs in 2008.

On the campaign trail in Swansea last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said his party's role in the UK coalition government mean these will be "tougher" elections.

He said: "I don't think we should somehow suggest that voters are not capable of distinguishing between local issues and national issues.

"These are local elections and so people are entitled to vote on local issues and that is what I think most people will do."

Elections are taking place in 21 out of 22 councils - all except Anglesey, which is being run by ministerially-appointed commissioners after years of political infighting. The Anglesey election will be in 2013.