What is an "independent" councillor?

Here is a definition from the Local Government Association of "independent" councillor:

"Being an independent candidate does not mean that one has no political views. Nor does it mean that one does not support a political party. Almost everyone has some political views, and tends towards supporting a political party on national issues. Independent councillors generally believe, though, that national concerns very often do not translate well to the local scene.

What predominantly characterises independent poltics is a belief that no party has a monopoly of good ideas, and that local governance depends on people of goodwill, people who listen to advice, argue and debate, are capable of arriving at sensible decisions on their merits, and who do not let their allegiances to their party political masters cloud their judgment.

Independent councillors have a wide range of views, and more and more we are seeing people who are members of all political parties becoming independent, in order to throw off the shackles of the party whip and escape from decsion-making behind closed doors"