I am inclined to agree with Drone. Although I guarantee that it will all be blamed on someone else when they inevitably make a mess of councils.
Voters may also see the local elections a ‘safe’ way of registering their displeasure with Labour without affecting the national picture.
On independents, they are definitely a good thing as long as you do your research on them (as I am sure you do). Some have been found to be in effect working with Rupert Lowe’s ludicrous ‘Restore’ party which for the uninitiated is for people who think that Reform and the Tories are a bit too left wing.