Putting Communities First

Eric Pickles, secretary of state, Communities and Local Government said: "Local (parish and town) councils are the pride of their communities. For well over a century they've been making a difference in towns and villages up and down the land. Parishes and town councils are rooted in their areas and care passionately about the places they belong to. We want to see you leading the localist vanguard. Using community rights to revolutionise public services, decide where new homes and shops go in your area, and safeguard much loved assets. Because parishes leading from the front will help local people call the shots. I wish you the very best of luck for today and look forward to hearing the outcomes of this important event."