IT is obvious that Ian Hunt, (SA July 14) who I am reliably informed lives in the parish of Stratton St Margaret, and is a former Local Government Officer with Thamesdown/Swindon Borough Council, does not fully understand the workings of the local government sector, especially that concerning parish and town councils.

Parish and town councils were set up by Act of Parliament in 1892 and are a body corporate responsible to the electorate to engage in local matters for the benefit of the residents in the area of jurisdiction.

The current government thinks that town/parish councils are so important to the community that they are setting up new councils throughout the country. This is because the councillors who sit on these councils are at the grass roots level of democracy, and are more in touch with the people they represent than the more distant County or Borough Councillors and are therefore able to deal with problems faster and hopefully more satisfactorily.

The government is also devolving new powers to town and parish councils ie neighbourhood planning, highways to name just two.

It is plain to see that the civil parish council is not an age old practice derived from the local churches, but a modern up-to-date organisation determined to get the best possible deal or the local residents. It is the Parochial Councils which support the local churches.

The numbers of councillors is laid down by electoral law. The elected members of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council represent an electorate of more than 22,000, the same number of voters is represented by only nine members on Swindon Borough Council.

These members are drawn from all walks of life and are committed to their civic duties for which they may claim up to £1,300 per annum – this equates to £22.50p per week, and as the average amount of time given by our councillors is eight hours a week, made up of attending committee meetings and dealing with constituents’ queries, so the hourly rate is £2.80p per hour, from which they have to pay for their own travelling costs, phone calls et al. Good value for money I would say.

Stratton St Margaret Parish Council provides a large number of services which the Borough Council either will not or cannot provide. We have two cemeteries, several fully equipped children’s play areas, football pitches throughout the parish, an all-weather grass football pitch, fully equipped fitness suite, a leisure centre, open to all residents, and the community rooms in Upper Stratton.

We also organise events throughout the parish ie Stratton Festival, the Christmas Extravaganza, the Stratton Stroll to name a few.

To assist the Borough Council with its finances the parish Council has taken over 14 open spaces, including Claridges Pond on Swindon Road, which will ease the burden for that council, whilst bringing the standard of maintenance up to the standard we demand for our own open spaces and recreation area.

Stratton St Margaret Parish Council gained Quality Council status several years ago, which Swindon Borough Council, as well as many other local types of council, has yet to achieve. So, for Mr Hunt to say that parish councils are superfluous could not be further from the truth.

Coun John Foley, Chairman of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council