SO T GIBSON thinks parish councils are dinosaurs (Letters, October 2). Parish and town councils should be the most representative and listening levels of government.

Unfortunately, there are still some parish councillors who get elected or co-opted and then believe they can please themselves.

They represent councils which don't welcome the public's views; don't let the parish know what they are thinking; don't participate in public consultation; don't have a budget for training councillors and clerks and don't carry out their decisions and procedures as prescribed by the law.

The Government wants parish and town councils to be a professional and effective representation of the views of their communities and a decision body for the enhancement of local community life.

This year the Government launched a scheme whereby councils can prove they are acting and thinking in a quality way. The tests for quality status include having a qualified clerk, issuing regular effective communication about their activity, having a fully elected body of councillors, issuing a timely annual report, holding at least six meetings a year and ensuring that separate time is allowed for public participation at meetings.

The Government supports training through groups such as the Yorkshire Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks.

Bryan Metcalf,

Regional training manager,

Society of Local Council Clerks,

Garth Lane,

Hambleton, Selby.

...HUGH Bayley says Tories and Liberal Democrats between them control all the parish councils (October 8).

Where did he get this information? Most parish xouncillors in the York area (and I believe in this country as a whole) are independent and hold no allegiance to any political party.

In many cases this can be checked by referring to the members' declaration of interests lodged with the local authority. Although it is not mandatory, many parish councillors include this information in their entries.

I hope Mr Bayley will apologise for this slur on parish councils who generally do their best for the local electors despite the efforts of whichever party is in power in the city to control them.

Alec Acomb,

Hillcrest Avenue,

Nether Poppleton, York.

Updated: 09:58 Tuesday, October 14, 2003