Campaigning for May’s local elections is in full swing and, what is truly amazing, everyone who is out knocking on doors report that they are having a wonderful reception, regardless of the party they represent.

This is nothing new given that in every election activists of all parties report that their candidates are attracting support from those who had previously voted against them while their traditional vote is holding firm. Someone must be telling porkies.

One exception to this “rule” was the former Conservative councillor Graham Cox who asked on Twitter whether it was him and him alone who wasn’t having the best time on the doorstep when everyone else was saying how wonderful everything was going. Graham was probably telling the truth, but the reception could not have been all bad as he won that particular by-election.

Based on my personal experience having stood for election on five occasions, not always unsuccessfully, the reception on the doorstep was usually friendly and rarely hostile. The worst response was always from those who were too polite to tell me that hell would freeze before they would vote for me, saying that they were still undecided.

A warning to those too nice to say what they really intend to do – if you don’t want representatives of a party to call again, be clear that you won’t be voting for them. They won’t waste their time by calling again. But if you say you are still undecided, expect further calls.

One issue I have noticed this time around is how the presentation of young candidates is being seen as a virtue. Giving the voice to those in their twenties is no bad thing, but it does have its downside. Contrary to popular belief, I was young once and was elected as a councillor for the first time aged just 25.

Being young brought very little with it other than my rather immature enthusiasm. I had little experience of life, and certainly not of running anything of substance. It is great to have young councillors elected but please don’t put them into positions of authority until they have learned a bit more about the council, the city and how they run.

It is not unknown for councillors to become arrogant, defensive and self-righteous.

When the public mood turns against them and they are the subject of criticism in the mainstream press and on social media, they become defensive and sometimes disillusioned. This is all the more true for young councillors who may not have the resilience or maturity to cope.

But one of the good thing about being young and inexperienced is that both of these conditions are self-correcting over time. Unfortunately, few young councillors last more than one term. The harsh, all-consuming reality of being a public representative plays havoc with one’s professional and social life. My professional life took off only after I was voted out, only to be put back on ice when re-elected a year later.

Martin Osborne, a young Green councillor who currently represents Hollingdean and Stanmer, both proves and disproves some of the above. It is always a pleasure to meet with him to discuss housing and other issues. Unlike some of his young colleagues, he remains positive and upbeat, perhaps too much so as he thinks the Greens will hang on to power in Brighton and Hove.

But as a relatively recent graduate, he is not standing for re-election in May. He is returning to the north east having secured a job with a housing association. He will excel in this new role but his departure will be a loss to the city.

While Martin remains buoyant about his party’s prospects in May, in private the mood among others is not so positive. Yes, the Greens will hang on to a few of their seats but several will be lost to Labour. Labour activists have rarely been more confident, believing that they will win wards currently shared with the Greens, and they are aiming to take entire wards off the Greens.

I forecast a majority council in Brighton and Hove with between Labour winning between 30 and 32 seats, notwithstanding its bland and uninspiring national leader.

The Greens will be down to between ten and 12 seats. The Conservatives, thanks to their inept and chaotic performance nationally over the last year, are lowering expectations – their national campaign launch took place two weeks ago with no press present as they weren’t invited. Locally, I predict, they will hang on to around eight seats. The independents should win two or three seats, in Rottingdean and, possibly, Portslade North.

Whatever criticisms I might have about individual councillors, it can be a thankless role and we should be grateful for their dedication and service, whatever their party or even their age.