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Kath, it can also be intensely frustrating when you know those making the decisions actually couldn't care a jot about what you are trying to do.
A case in point, Dover carnival.
DTC exemplify all that you say. 100% support all the way, couldn't ask for better. Felt appreciated and that the whole council were on our side to make it a good day for all.
DDC, the complete opposite, nothing but hurdles and refusals to fuinding requests, route suggestions, event timing, signage and so on and so on. In fact having spoken to others who went through that mill, it seemed as though some had their own prsonal agenda to disrupt and frustrate the organisations involved. All done with a smile, but the intent was obvious.
To his credit, our beloved DDC leader, Mr Watty, has invited me to speak with him privately on this and other matters, and, as I am in the UK for little while longer I will be taking up his kind offer. Maybe things will change as a result.
Then we have our esteemed yet invisible KCC councillors. If you know yours you might be lucky or they may be away for a couple of months on holiday and therefore you will be unlucky. Before I went to Nigeria the River Scout Hut needed a new roof but they couldn't get any support and didn't know they could ask their local KCC man; well, they didn't even know who he was! If you ever want to know how to mainitain a very low profile ask a KCC Councillor how it's done, they all know. There is one exception, our Keith.
Finally, Burnham-on-Crouch Carnival Association wanted a hall for events and their local councillors got together with them, assigned their Lottery Fund expert to the assocation for the duration and helped them apply for funding. They received £250,000 from the Lottery Fund and now have a superb hall that they use and rent out. Several other grants have also been acquired which, without council officer support, BoCCA wouldn't have had a sniff at.
I could go on but I'm getting angry just typiing this so I'll stop now. In short, Dover councils/councillors could do better for local organisations in this regard.