AS a parish council clerk, I have followed with interest the reports in your paper on the founding of Lickey End Parish Council.

If any resident of Lickey End is concerned about what parish councils do, they could always visit any of the 19 other civil parishes within Bromsgrove district to have a look at what goes on.

In Alvechurch, for less than 60p per week a Band D council taxpayer is provided with footpath lighting, four well maintained playing fields, complete with children's play areas, a community centre, public toilets, bus shelters, seats and projects such as traffic calming and village centre improvements.

All parish councils are entitled to be notified of, and comment on, planning applications and many donate grant aid to needy voluntary groups.

Parish councils also have strong links with the district and county councils.

By law, the money raised via the precept can only be spent in the parish for the benefit of residents.

All the parish councillors are volunteers; the only expenses they are legally entitled to claim are those for attending meetings outside the parish and since all parish council meetings are in the parish, the expenses bill is confined to attendance at training seminars or the odd conference.

So, residents of Lickey End, where I notice the cost of the new council to the Band D council taxpayer will be less than 14p per week, when the time comes to vote for your parish councillors, I say go for it.

You have an opportunity to influence grass roots democracy and elect a council which will be dedicated to building a community you can be proud of.

Gill Lungley,

Birmingham Road,

Hopwood,

Alvechurch