Retired Lord Lieutenant Sir Hugo Brunner has worked tirelessly over the last 12 years as the Queen's representative in Oxfordshire to support and encourage community life in the county.
This week he chose the occasion of his award of a certificate of honour by Oxford City Council to criticise the way local life is being held back by centralising government.
Sir Hugo was full of praise for what is achieved by local authorities and local communities working together in Oxfordshire.
Yet, he said there was an ever-growing move towards central or regional control over local life that stretched back over successive governments of different persuasions.
Sir Hugo, as someone who has worked closely with local government, but has never been part of it, is well placed to judge.
His comments serve as a reminder that we should never take our local democracy for granted. Indeed, it is something that we need to fight for.
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