CONGRATULATIONS to all involved in putting on a fantastic event to celebrate the centenary of Tilbury town.

The beauty of the event is it was driven by the community, for the community and therein lies the secret of its success.

These days it is the default response to look to the Government or the council to sort things out and make things happen.

Too often politicians play to the gallery and pretend they can solve all the nation’s ills and make everything better.

If only it were so simple. The truth is that when Government gets involved it spends a lot of money and doesn’t always achieve what it set out to, despite the best intentions.

Government delivers most effectively when it works in partnership with the community-supporting local initiative, not dictating how it should be done.

So as we look at what we should do to give Grays a lift, we should learn from the community leadership we see in Tilbury – and from the community spirit we saw when the Olympic torch relay came to town.

Building community pride can’t be achieved by sitting behind a desk dreaming up grand plans. Neither will it be achieved by establishing new talking shops in the form of area councils.

Throughout Thurrock there are community leaders who have nothing to do with politics and nothing to do with the council. Many of them are involved in their local forums and other community organisations.

I would like to see these people really empowered – to have a greater say in how money is spent in their communities and what needs to be done.

So if we are really going to embrace the spirit of localism, I would like to see those communities that want them establish parish and town councils. These would be a real local voice – not just a talking shop.

Communities would not just have to put up with what they are given by the council – their parish and town councils would be able to fight on their behalf.

It is a simple enough process to achieve – it justs needs a petition supported by a given number of electors, depending on the size of the area to be covered.

So, community activists – start the petitions now!