FIFTY-FOUR seats on Buckinghamshire County Council are up for grabs in today's election, as well as the parliamentary seats.

Many people will not have a clue who their local county councillor is because they will not have had the need to approach them individually for help. Yet the work done at county hall is of concern to everyone.

Got children at school? The county council is the local education authority and a huge chunk of its £350 million budget is spent on schools.

Got a frail elderly relative? The council runs social services and helps older people needing care at home or in residential homes.

Worried about vulnerable children? The county council is responsible for them and acts as surrogate parent for children in care.

Furious about icy roads and potholes? Yes. You've got it. It's a county council responsibility.

Terrified "they" will build huge housing estates on the green field outside your back garden? The county council is responsible for bringing out a structure plan laying down how many houses each district will take.

Based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire County Council is one of the biggest employers in the county and is currently Conservative controlled.

It has just been modernised as a result of government legislation into a cabinet system.

County councillors will get £8,000 a year for doing the job while cabinet members get £16,000, the leader £40,000 and the deputy leader £29,500.

This new system is designed to speed up the way things get done by giving more decision-making power to the cabinet.

It is also intended to make the cabinet more accountable to the public because voters will know who has taken decisions and councillors will not be able to pass on the responsibility to the officers.