It says that within local communities, local people not only have a right to a say on what goes on but that communities improve when that happens.

Democracy should be a 365-day a year process, not something that happens once every four years.

When Hazel Blears spoke to Parliament last week, I said that what matters most to most people is what happens outside their front doors, on their streets and estates.

More deprived areas, with fewer facilities and the poorer conditions, often have the least influence over what goes on locally.

Helping

Councillors and council officials should be helping those people who are least able to express their views to influence the state of their community.

Hazel told the House that she would introduce a range of measures to help our communities to develop.

She said that ordinary council officers, such as housing officers and planners, should work in a way that builds the capacity of the local community to influence events, as a matter of course.

High Peak will be one of 18 council areas to lead this programme forward.

Building on the work of the local area forums, where different services and councillors come together with the public, I want to see our wards and communities have more influence over what goes on at the most local of levels.

The White Paper looks for new and appropriate ways for communities to tell those who provide services locally as to what needs doing.

I often say that if your car goes wrong the mechanic gets underneath it and looks up.

Looking down from on top doesn't help, as all you see is the roof, boot and bonnet.

It's the same with communities! So: more power, as they say, to the people.