Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The 'first tier' is parish and town councils.

Town councils are usually 'politicised' but, fortunately, parish councils are not.

In 1991, 10% of councils had members who declared political affiliation, rising by 2010 to 48% (98% for councils with populations over 20,000). In 1991 only 4% of councils deemed themselves to be run along political lines, but this had increased to 19% nineteen years later (82% for councils with populations of 20,000 plus)

These figures are from an article in the autumn Local Council Review magazine.