It's half term so neither the Commons or the Lords are sitting this week.

MPs can spend time with their constituents or on the ski slopes, according to personal taste and the marginality of their seats.

Their Lordships may be entertaining in their country seats, devoting their attention to their business interests or in many cases just resting and recuperating as appropriate to people of their advancing years!

For me it's a chance to devote more time to local affairs.

This morning there was an important meeting between senior councillors and staff from Pendle Council and the County Council to try to sort out some of the issues that have arisen with the proposals for the new Marsden Heights secondary school at Brierfield.

On Wednesday the six schemes will be unveiled in the architectural competition for the regeneration of a large area of Whitefield in Nelson, with the judgement day next Monday Wednesday evening will see the special meeting of Pendle Council to set the budget and council tax for next year.

It will be an odd occasion as Pendle Council's proposals for better and expanded services contrast with the county council's dismal list of cuts.

People often ask me whether this kind of grass-roots involvement is more or less useful than the altogether more grandiose activities in the Palace of Westminster?

My answer is usually well, yes and no! They both affect a lot of people in quite intimate ways.

Last Monday I spoke in the second reading of the Electoral Administration Bill, and we start the Grand Committee next Tuesday.

It may sound pretty dry stuff but it's about things at the heart of our democracy like stopping postal voting fraud, and how and where you can vote.

We will be getting the Terrorism Bill and the Identity Cards Bill back from the Commons.

Both are about the crucial relationship between all of us and the forces of authority the state.

Before too long the Lords will be discussing the new health legislation which includes after last week's Commons votes proposals to ban smoking completely in all enclosed public areas including cafes, pubs and clubs.

So I admit I love it all! The difference of course is that at council meetings I know that I have been democratically elected to my privileged position.

Sadly, further House of Lords reform seems to be as far away as ever.