Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

Good News!  I have found that the 2 student brothers from Pakistan have had a last minute reprieve.  It was a close run thing, 25 minutes before they were due to leave.  I cannot imagine the emotions that they must have been going through, and they are not allowed to be with their family and are in a detention centre over Christmas.  But at least they now have a chance and some hope.

Hope and new beginnings are what we are about to celebrate tomorrow.  The turkey is ready to roast, the stuffings in the oven, and frumenty (old North Yorkshire dish) is nearly ready, so I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas.

I was surpriised to get a message from Mary Reid that she has nominated my for the Gender Balance Task Force woman blogger of the year, for both this blog and for the best post, citing the post I did on April 29th this year about the asyulum monologues.  That post, on my Mayoral Blog whilst I was Mayor of Stockton, took a lot of writing, and even more getting through the Council system.  However the message that came over that day was far too important to just stay in my mind, even though I often think about it.

Sadly, today, I was reminded again of how determined the Government is to meet its own targets and deport as many people as it can.  I have had a message telling me that 2 students, originally from Pakistan, are about to be deported on Christmas Eve for no other reason, it appears, than that there was an administrative error in one of their forms.  The 2 students have nearly finished gaining their qualifications, they have had not one penny of pubilc money spent on them, all of their fees and upkeep being paid for by friends.  So who will benefit ?  Not the 2 students almost reaching their targets for gaining a useful qualification; not international relationships as the news of this move spreads; not the public purse - the students were costing us nothing but their deportation will; Ah - but I forget, a Government target will be met.  I thought I had finished work for the holidays, but a letter has been written and faxed off to the Chief Executive of the airline, urging him to refuse to co-operate in this forced removal.

Back to the blogging.  Have a look at the link, and think about any nominations you might want to make, and maybe more importantly, other women you would like to be incouraged to start blogging.  I'll start thinking.

In the meantime, unless something stirs me to log on, I won't be posting over the holidays - let us hope for a quiet time!

I've cracked it! I know where the missing HMRC Child Benefit CDs have gone!  Santa has embraced the Government's e-agenda, and is using it to update his data base of all the children.  It just proves that he visits all the children, and not just the good ones - the data base won't have shown that.

Chris Huhne was in the news, being criticised for asking the Audit Commission to investigate the issues around the planning permission in Durham for "anonymous" Labour North East donor, David Abrahams.  However the rumours that something had been happening that shouldn't were circulating around, and reached here, before Chris Huhne ever said anything.  It is important that if there are allegations of wrongdoing, then they are investigated, and if nothing is untoward the air is cleared and everyone can relax.  It wasn't just the donor that would have done something wrong, it would have been numerous officials in both local and national Government.  The rumours, nothing to do with Chris Huhne, needed to be dealt with.  Like the Child Benefit database - people not in the know do not differentiate between the good and the bad, and all planners would have had a slur over them were it not for the investigation.

The Peace Light has arrived in Stockton!

This light starts off in Bethlehem, in present day Palestine, and is passed to an Israeli child.  From there it is flown to Austria where there is a large ecumenical service.  It is then taken to many parts of the world.  In this Country  it arrives at Dover, and Scoutmaster Arthur Woof collected it from Sheffield this year to bring to our part of the world.  We have had it at our Church for several years, and last year, whilst I was Mayor, Arthur brought it to Stockton High Street where we had a session singing carols and many people came to take a light to their own homes or Churches.  This year it was brought to the present Mayor's Civic Carol Service.

I always find it a very beautiful moment when it arrives, the flame having burnt continuously, symbolising light and peace, from the actions of 2 children is such a war torn part of the world.  Have a look at the website.

Peace Message 2007 -"' May the Light stretch far and wide, giving comfort, peace and friendship"

I learnt that the candle would remain in Stockton Parish Church for the funeral tomorrow of solider who was killed in Afghanistan.

I was shocked, horrified and disgusted to find that a court case about deporting an asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of Congo has decided that it is safe to return to that Country.  That after landing at Kinshasha airport all will be well.  I know from evidence seen in Stockton that people are not safe, they have been tortured and their families have suffered.  Yet this case could mean a potentially fatal outcome for so many people.  The timing of the decision of a case that has dragged on since July - just as when those most needed to support are not around and not able to be contacted.  Who said that this was a season of goodwill ? Not the Home Office, that is for sure.

At the other end of the scale my spirits did lift a little when I went through the ward and found that a dropped kerb needed by a number of people with disabilities was finally being constructed.  It was "purchased" by our small environmental improvement budget, and a really good example of what can happen when we can make some funding decisions locally.

Anger again when I got home and found a flyer for Debenham's Sale.  It starts at 8.00 a.m. on Boxing Day.  That will mean that staff not only have to be up and at work very early on that day, but many will have had to work either late Christmas Eve, on Christmas Day, or get to work extremely early.  People should be entitled to a break with their families and not have to work for something that is not at all necessary, like provide an emergency service or food.  A letter has been dispatched !

Well that was close - but Nick Clegg was elected our new leader by just 511 votes.  It was amazing to watch on TV and see the room heaving - no talk about getting our Party into a phone box!  We have a new breath of life and new phase in our Party now, so I'm looking forward to getting more members and more campaigning getting off the ground to get our messages over.

Meanwhile, back on the ground I take part in scrutinising the Coucnil's consultation strategy.  Making sure our strategies actually deliver what they say is becoming one of my mission's on the Council. 

A meeting about internal Council matters, and one of the items on the agenda was Councillor allowances.  Nowadays all Councillors are paid a "basic allowance" and those that have extra responsibilities get paid an extra "special responsibility allowance".  An independent review panel has been looking at what we get in Stockton and recommended some rises.  However Council has to decide which of the recommended rates to choose.  Currently we get £6,150 a year which is taxable and counts against any state benefits - well below the minimum wage when you add up the hours we work!  The recommendations are to increase up to £7,000, £7,600 or £8,300.  I would be interested to know what anyone reading this thinks ?  Are value for money ? do we deserve a rise ? is it indecent to have a rise when many Council staff are facing difficult times ?

Let me know.

Another difficult issue.  I had had a card from a constituent upset about the difficulty in getting to our Town Hall.  For those of you that do not know it, it is in the middle of the widest High Street in England, and that is part pedestrianised so only buses can travel along it.  This means that anyone disabled cannot get a taxi there.  How do you let genuinely disabled people be transported down without others taking advantage.  Well views on this welcome too.

Whilst we are rushing around sorting out not only what we are going to eat, but what we drink over Christmas, it is easy to forget that other parts of the world do not have the very basics of clean water to drink, to say nothing of proper sanitation.  We were given a card from Water Aid at Church this morning about this, pointing out that in 1858 in London, children died in their thousands from diseases because the River Thames was literally an open sewer.  Action was taken, health was improved and lives were saved.  This is what must happen in other Countries today., where 5,000 children a day are dying from related diseases.  We've sent a postcard to the Japanese Prime Minister, who is hosting the 2008 G8 summit, calling for the G8 to make an extraordinary effort and agree a global action plan for sanitation and water.  You can add your name on the web based petition.

As it says on the card, G8 must act.  Poverty will never be eradicated where people have nowhere to go to the toilet.

Should be getting ready for Christmas, but there is case work coming in, and worse - lots of documents to read for Council meetings next week.  Sound like a winge ? well what would you rather do - plough through background reading for Corporate and Social Inclusion select Committee and the Members Advisory Panel, or do something Christmassy ? Well it was a compromise, I did do quite a bit, but went along to, and enjoyed the ecumenical Carol Service in Stockton High Street.  As the Council laptop won't make a connection today, I should be able to get on with cards and planning a party tonight.

Hearing about the difficult problems going to be caused by severe cuts in our local Fire Service Budget was a big concern.  Our group leader, Cllr Maureen Rigg has described the situation well on her blog.  Do look at the consultation document.

Tonight I was accompanying John as Deputy Mayoress to Yarm Methodist Church Concert.  Wonderful.  We enjoyed, were moved, and laughed.  I wish the Council officers had been there to hear the ditty about problems parking in Yarm High Street; and that everyone could have heard and experienced the joyous singing.  A great privilege to be able to share in their warmth and community.

It was interesting to see the photo of Charles Wesley (to the right, John is on the left and their mother in the middle), as it is the 300^th anniversary of his birth next week.  John Wesley preached in Yarm, and that is how the unique octagonal chapel came to be built there.

Atishoo, atishoo, I fell back into bed.  I should be grateful it was the first cold of the winter though.  I did manage to get out to take round some letters consulting people about a possible new pathway into a wood near to them.  A classic case of the possibility of an improvement for people to go for walks, and for the flora of the area.  But will it be abused by others making it unworkable ?  Then some negotiation on getting a pile of salt (they wanted a salt bin really) for some people needing it to be able to cross a small bridge safely in frosty weather.  The Council aren't happy as they are worried it will get vandalised and thrown around.  I am concerned about that too, but don't want people falling down - and not falling into bed, but a painful and probably disabling fall !

But then life on the Council is a balancing act.

A different sort of card writing tonight, with Yarm Justice and Peace Group.  Amnesty International give names of political prisoners and victims throughout the world, and cards can be sent to their families, friends or supporters.  It does bring home the fact that disgruntled though we are with the political situation in this country, we can speak out and campaign against it.  We hear of situations in other Countries, that we barely know where they are, and yet reading stories of individuals who are suffering as part of what are past headlines does remind us that this is not about events on the news.  It is about real people not able to live real lives.  I do hope that our cards and messages will give them some support and encouragement.

Goodness only knows what the Post Office will think as we take the pile to assorted countries to be stamped.

 I've done a massive "catch up" tonight on the blog after getting home, as it was the first time I could cope with any non essential typing.  I'll try not to get behindhand again!

Highway matters dominate today.  A site visit (brrrr!) to look at solutions to problems caused by vehicles driving over the paved area in front of the Elm Tree shops was rewarded with a number of vehicles doing just that, not noticing a police presence and getting told firmly it wasn't on.  Saving half a minute for the driver means that the paving becomes unsafe for pedestrians to say nothing of the chance of getting knocked over by the cars.  Ward surgery was dominated by problems of people driving too fast, not showing consideration for others, and the new traffic lights not making matters any better.  Traffic lights apart, if only drivers would THINK more about the results of their actions on others, it would not only save lives and accidents, but would avoid expensive solutions that penalise others too.

However the best bit of highway was the road to York, to go and see our grand daughter in the school nativity play.  She was the best sheep ever! The rest of the play was really good too, and you cannot beat young children acting out the play.  Whilst we were in the school we say the notice about the School Council.  As proud grandparents we were of course interested as our grandson is on the School Council now.   Now that was clear what the role was !

I was glad of a meeting today to clear the air around some issues that needed sorting out in the ward.  The definitions of what is and is not a ward Councillor's responsibility is blurred at times, and varies in different situations.  There are times when a round the table meeting is the best and mainly only way of clearing the air , and each understanding the roles of others.

I must say I did resent having to spend time reading "Internet Protocol for Members", the many pages of which are in a loose leaf file - I dread to think how many more pages will get added.  However it had to be read and signed.  I am grateful for the computer support we get from the Council - but I would have rather got more Christmas Cards done!

The Tees Valley Youth Orchestra were going to be playing tonight in Stockton Parish Church, and I was going to go and present the first of the Mayor's Prize for young musicians from a fund I set up whilst I was Mayor.  However the concert sadly had to be cancelled because the heating had broken down in the Church.  Now if ever there was a need for a purpose built concert hall in the Tees Valley .....

The other side of this, though, was that we were able to get tickets to see and hear the Messiah performed.  Words cannot describe how magnificent it was.  Just wonderful, and now Christmas can begin.

The Port Health Authority is usually rather dry, but an interesting item today about the problems of dealing with and authenticating organic produce from the Third World.  A huge pile of bureaucracy (not likely to be organic!) seems to have been invented to deal with this.  I do want to see if there is a way of helping the Third World Producers that does not give an easy loophole for unscrupulous people to sneak goods labelled as organic through.  Any ideas out there ?

Then something really enjoyable - choosing the Christmas Tree.  We had walked over to a local farm (legs still working!) to choose a lovely locally grown tree.  I felt like a child going out for a treat, and enjoying the excitement of it coming back to be stored outside till we bring it in a few days before Christmas.  On a Friday afternoon, when everyone else was working.  :-)

I should have known better of course, there were 3 urgent messages on ansaphones when I got in and a flood of e-mails. :-(

More Physio today for the very painful arm and shoulder that I suddenly developed last week.  I am very lucky to be able to access this and other therapies.  It makes the world of difference, and I really cannot understand why the NHS does not use such therapies much more often as a matter of routine to help people live a more pain free life.  We aren't there with the arm yet though - and that is why there has been no blog for over a week - I just couldn't cope with anything on the computer I didn't have to do.  I dread to think how disabling it would be without the physio though.

A new experience at Pilates instruction.  I am getting on well with the exercises so had deep massage for some of the muscles.  I walked out on air

In the middle of a fraught day with much to sort and going wrong in our ward it was a relief to go as a substitute for Julia to Home Safety Association Meeting.  We were meeting at Tithe Barn House to visit the Independent Living Centre there.  There is a large selection of aids and adaptations ranging from beds, chairs & showers, to phones and appliances to help to get the tops of jars.  People will be able to go along to try out equipment and discuss it with trained people before buying for themselves or having delivered as it is prescribed for them.  It seems as though people are often  tempted to buy large items from newspaper adverts that are not only unsuitable for them but cost much more than they need.  I can understand why, there are times when you are so uncomfortable or in pain you will do anything if it might help.  However the people of Stockton can now visit this Centre, it is best to ring first on 01642 524750.

Getting Focus out to the excellent willing band of residents prepared to deliver is not necessarily the best way to spend a winters day, but well worth doing, and I really am grateful to those who give their time freely to make sure all residents in the ward are kept in touch with what is happening.

The Carol Service at Queen's Campus was thoroughly enjoyable again, and a nice change not to be Mayor with something to do, but sit back and enjoy.  We then joined with students, Professors, and other supporters of the University in  the traditional candle lit procession along the river and over the bridge to be met by the Mayor and Council Officers.  This year the "candles" were electric, so didn't all blow out on the way over.  There was then the traditional formal exchange of greetings between Town and Gown before going out into the High Street to sing Carols together.  It has only been happening for a few years, but a tradition already.

We were lucky to be going to a performance of "Platform" tonight.  This organisation only formed last year, promotes classical music in the Tees Valley, and we had a wonderful range of performers ranging from 7 year old's in a choir of youngsters to students on bursaries from Platform who had returned to perform, through to accomplished adults.  A great night in the splendid setting of Wynyard Hall, thanks to Sir John Hall.

People at Church had been really generous and I went home with a car filled with presents for local homeless families some who have been abandoned by their families.  We have done this for years now, and not only does it hopefull give some Christmas cheer for those who really need it, and lets them know that people do care, but it also raises awareness of the fact that homelessness isn't just about people in big cities, it is happening in our own community just down the road.