Every week I like to keep abreast of local news and issues by reading papers like the Journal (one of three that cover my patch) as well as browsing the many Parish magazines and newsletters published right across my large constituency.

I am always so impressed by the amount of voluntary effort that goes into their creation and indeed the efforts of the local people who feature on their pages, working so hard to improve the communities in which we live. This prompted me to think about the interaction of personal responsibility and different tiers of Government, or to put it another way, where does responsibility start? For me it starts with us as individuals, and then tiers of family, community, our own nation and human society as a whole.

In terms of administration the tiers of authority are parish/ town council, unitary council, National government and the European Union.

So where to go to get something done?

I think the best place to start is often at the bottom with your own efforts then step up the tiers as need. If you see litter, why not pick it up yourself?

If your footpath needs clearing and you can’t do it, then ask the parish council (but then why not volunteer to help?).

Notice a pot hole in the highway? That’s a job for the professionals, so Wiltshire Council are the ones to call (and have just been given another million pounds from the new £250 million National Pothole Fund to help with the problem).

Of course, you may be a person who rebels against any authority but selfish individuality or free riding makes family and community life much tougher.