Although there's a lot of focus on the election for councillors for the new Somerset Council, the parish and town council elections are also important.

The people elected to these councils will still be carrying out their usual important functions, and they will also have a vital role working with the new council, pioneering new Local Community Networks with power to influence important decisions. They will also have a range of opportunities – if they want – to take control of local assets and services on a cost-neutral basis, such as parks and community centres. Here is a list of the candidates standing in your neighbourhood: GLASTONBURY – ST BENEDICT'S WARD

Clive Bishop: Conservative

Indra Donfrancesco: Green Party

Susannah Hart: Conservative

Robert Henderson: Independent

Emma King: Independent

Ian Mutch: Green Party

Michael White: Green Party

GLASTONBURY: St EDMUND'S WARD

Simon Baker-Cooke: Glastonbury Independent

Nick Cottle: Liberal Democrats

Jon Cousins: Green Party

Hugo Hart: Conservative

Bryan Knickerbocker: Liberal Democrats

Lokabandhu Lokabandhu: Green Party

Serena Roney-Dougal: Green Party

Chris Wickham: Conservative

GLASTONBURY – ST JOHN'S WARD

Sue Barnet: Green Party

Dietrich Cook: Conservative

Paul Manning: Independent

Lillith Osborn: Conservative

Zoe Price: Green Party

Sue Thurgood

James White: Green Party

GLASTONBURY – ST MARY'S WARD

Paul Lund: Independent

Lindsay MacDougall: Green Party

Terry Napper: Conservative

Margaret Oakden: Conservative

Mike Smyth: Green Party

Dave Wardell: Liberal Democrats

STREET – NORTH WARD

Deb Goater

Peter Goater

Heather Shearer

STREET – SOUTH WARD

Pam Birch

Andrew Leafe

Laura Wolfers

STREET – WEST WARD

Terry Napper

Nicola Smith

BALTONSBOROUGH

Malcolm Dykes

Ali Ingham

Samantha Maddaford

Fiona Maddock

Mary Phillips

Adrian Wotton

BUTLEIGH

Andy Coleman

Keith Otton

Trevor Willmott

GODNEY

Richard Evans

Jack Murdoch-North

Amanda Ryder

Christine Steadman

MEARE

Chris Bennetts

Tamsin Costigan

Jane Field

Colin Foster

Tristan Foster

Lee Gage

Nicola Hoskins

Teresa James

Alvin Neale

Charlotte Norris

Elizabeth Norris

Gayle Richards

Victoria Winter

Alan Wren

WALTON

Bob Collins

Richard Crossman

John Harvey

Simon Loader

Bob Musgrave

Richard Vowles

WEST PENNARD

Marion Colman

Percival Creed

Albert Gane

Michael Heal

Guy Willcox