In the UK, we do not elect our Local Councillors. We have no say in who runs the Council that we pay to maintain public services and functions. We simply have to trust that the Councils will act within the best interests of their residents.

As the only way we as residents can choose to pay another Council is by leaving the area and moving to a different locale which is maintained by a different Council, there is no incentive for Councils to arrive to do better for their local community as there is no penalty. 

I propose that Councils should have to be more transparent with the residents of their County, Town etc.

For example, when the new budget is drawn up, this should have to be approved by the community by way of a vote. Once the budget has been approved, any changes to the budget would then also need to be approved by way of a vote again. This keeps the spending in the local area completely transparent and gives the community an opportunity to voice where they feel the problems in the area lie.

Before any major works are conducted which may have a long-term negative impact on a community, this should have to be discussed and, where possible and feasible, put to a vote.

For too long Local Councils have been able to act in an almost unregulated fashion. In the same way that politicians state they are employees of the people, it's time that Councils worked for their people, not themselves.