SOMETIMES councillors must lead. Sometimes they must listen.
And yesterday Birmingham City Council's licensing committee listened carefully to Bournville residents opposing Tesco's application for permission to be allowed to sell alcohol at its store in the district.
We applaude committee members for turning down the application.
There was widespread opposition to the plan.
Anxious families pointed to Bournville's unusual status as a dry area and spoke of their fears that Tesco's proposed drinks sales would fuel anti-social behaviour.
This newspaper backed them all the way because we believe that residents should have a major say in what happens in their neighbourhoods.
Perhaps lessons will be learned and the people will be allowed to decide on other issues...like elected mayors.