Conservative leader Cliff Jordan has lead Norfolk County Council since May 2016. He was elected leader of the Conservative group aged 69 in March 2015.

Mr Jordan, who ran a landscape gardening business before turning to politics, was first elected to the council in June 2001 and represents the Yare and All Saints ward.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

For the last four years, the politics of Norfolk has been dominated by one phrase: rainbow alliance.

With no party winning an overall majority last time round, a loose coalition of Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP and Greens came together to run the council. 

One of the big questions in this election is: Did it work, and should Norfolk have another one? 

The rainbow alliance changed the way that council business was done by doing away with the cabinet system, it sorted out the Kings Lynn incinerator (remember that one?!) and started to get to grips with the dire situation in childrens' services.

It also argued a lot and last year fell apart leaving the Conservatives to take over. 

The Tories say the alliance was a disaster and little got done. The opposition parties say those three years were some of the best Norfolk ever had. 

These elections have been eclipsed by the general election but there are important issues for voters to consider: 

• How does the authority keep providing front line services with continued pressure on its budget?
• Which party will best ensure that Norfolk gets the transport and broadband links that it so needs
• Should the Northern Distributor Road run all the way around Norwich or stop at Taverham?

All the parties are promising strong leadership, the question for voters is which party can do the job best or is it a job best shared once again?

If you haven't decided how you're going to vote in the local elections, external on Thursday 4 May, tune in to the big debate on BBC Radio Norfolk, which starts at 09:00. 

You can listen to it by clicking here. 

Before it starts, we'll have a profile of each of the candidates, so you can learn a bit about their backgrounds.

The debate features representatives of the five main parties on Norfolk County Council and will be chaired by BBC Look East Political Correspondent Andrew Sinclair (pictured).

We'll bring you some analysis from him next.

Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live

Good morning and thanks for joining us on the day BBC Radio Norfolk holds a live debate with the leaders of the five main parties on Norfolk County Council.

In less than a week, many of us will be going to the polls to vote for a new county council. Traditionally turn out is low - about half that of a general election.

My colleague Nic Rigby and I will bring you updates from the debate, which gets under way at 09:00.