With the county council elections about to take place, there may be those who feel that casting their vote achieves nothing and is a waste of time.

The answer is that local government has an effect on everyone’s life. It isn’t just a case of paying the council tax and forgetting about what happens every day. Exercising the right to vote ensures that the views of local people are listened to when it comes to the provision of services.

For instance, one of the most enduring issues I hear about from constituents is the repair of the roads and particularly potholes. When, where and how potholes are mended isn’t the decision of a civil service mandarin in “Whitehall” – it is organised by the county council.

In the last couple of years I have gone out with the teams of workers who make repairs to the roads, to see how they tackle this ongoing situation. Earlier this year I accompanied the team operating the velocity patcher.

This is an impressive piece of equipment. Its use was introduced partly in response to the concerns of members of the public – expressed to councillors - about the repair of the roads after ice, snow and rain damaged the road surfaces.

Councils decide how budgets will be spent at the local level on things like the provision of social care and education. Conservatives in Government have given more powers to local councils.

In the last couple of years, the Regional Development Associations, the Regional Assemblies and Government Offices for the Regions – all aspects which made decision-making more remote from the local area – have been abolished.

Councils are not exempt from the prevailing economic climate but in seeking to keep council tax low (recognising that families and individuals are hard-pressed too) there have been efforts made to keep council tax rises down, because of the effect this has on the cost of living.

So I would say to everyone: please exercise your vote because local democracy is all-important.