Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

A cheerful meeting about planning play provision in our areas.  The more you think about it, the more you realise the difference in how we played when we were young (1950's in my case) and whether we allowed our own children to have same chance of adventure and freedom.  As for allowing our grandchildren - we couldn't even think of it!  But is it good for children to not be allowed to take risks in a reasonably controlled environment ? shouldn't we be encouraging a spirit of adventure ?  All food for thought in our planning ahead.

Lunch on the trot as I arrived at the Housing and Neighbourhood Partnership meeting.  An interesting presentation about the Housing Improvement Agency we are going to have very soon.  About time too - I did a lot of research and work on getting one for Stockton 16 years ago, but was resoundly turned down.  I shudder to think how many people have not been helped in the intervening years - should Stockton Council have taken the risk, set one up and been the first rather than last to do so in the area.

Then the issues around the "credit crunch".  I have put in a determined bid for ways of keeping people in their homes rather than turned out if repossessed to be looked at, at a special meeting later in the month.   I warned them that they wouldn't want me turning up on a zimmer frame in years to come telling them they should have done it years ago !  Go on, we've been talking about it for a while now.  Take a risk to be able to prevent people from becoming homeless - go for it, be a trail blazer !

A long day at what was called a "Priority Setting Event" for Stockton Rennaisance.  Lots of people were there from the voluntary sector, the community and people involved in the Local Strategic Partnership.  I enjoyed, as always, the chance to meet such people and make new contacts or catch up with old one's.  keeps your feet on the ground.  How much "priority setting" was done I wouldn't like to say though.  One can only set priorities that fit in with umpteen Government rules, and Council Officers say are OK to do.  There is a small amount of money that can only be spent on reducing "worklessness" and we can choose some targets from a pre-determined list that our area partnership will ask to be monitored.  I did wonder if I had spent the day achieving anything.

I had the chance to deal with numerous e-mails that were pouring through.  The one I was unable to respond to was one that will have to wait till I calm down.  A refusal of our request for the planning application for the mast to be taken at the planning committee, including comments that we hadn't quoted from the right document - even though there was no indication on the form what the right document actually was.  The points made were still valid, but not accepted.  After a whole day of hearing how important the community and its views are, I could say ************** but I will restrain myself, you don't know who might be reading this.

We were at Ripon Cathedral for the celebration of the International Week for Older People organised by Cllr Bernard Bateman from North Yorkshire Council.  There was a grand procession of civic heads to the Cathedral, most but of all looking silver haired - although we had some grand hats between us!  In the Cathedral we were greeted with the thought that the Canon had just become eligible for his bus pass, something we could all relate to.  However we were stunned into silence when he said his son had just turned 33, and in Zimbabwe he would have been entering his last year.  That really does make you think.

We heard from a lady who had worked to found Esk Moor Caring, and organisation that had been set up to ensure that older people could stay in the Dale they lived in, first by building an Abbeyfield Home, and then by building up links so that older people could stay in their home as long as possible.  Her talk was truly inspirational, and just shows what can be done if some people get together, are determined, and get support from the Council.

The sermon quite took be aback.  Civic persons were thanked for the work they did in their various mayoralities, chairmanships, and supporting roles.  Then he thanked all those in public life for the work that they did, especially in working for the elderly.  Then elderly people who contributed to society were thanked.  That was 3 times for me, and I wondered what orders were going to come.  There were none, just a heartfelt and sincere thank you.  What a difference for a no strings attached thanks, must remember the effect it can have.

the pictures are on The Mayor's Blog.

Heard a story at the table at tonight's civic event that quite tickled me.  We heard how in County Durham in my neighbour's youth the rag and bone man gave a chicken for anything he collected.  The chicken was kept in the garden to grow up, much to the delight of the youngsters.  However come Christmas Eve the boys were told to kill it for Christmas dinner.  I won't go into how that happened but in the distraught family only the boys and the dad ate it.  Mother and girls couldn't bear the thought.  I know I couldn't either which is very hypocritical of me, as I would if I hadn't seen it running around I suppose.

A reminder that today's "rag and bone" or scrap dealers have to have a license to collect such from your houses, and householders are liable for a big fine if they pass on unwanted goods to anyone without a waste disposal licence.  No chickening out of that!

A sad goodbye to our friends, beginning their journey back to the US.  It has been wonderful to be with them for a few days in between all the work, and catch up.  They do know exactly how they are going to vote come the election - don't worry about that!  I have got very behind with this blog, but so what.

I was accompanying John to 3 Mayoral events (having to miss the 4^th).  The YMCA were opening a new shop in Billingham Town Centre.  They are specialising in furniture and had a splendid display of goods.  Have a look if you want anything, and let them know if you want to donate any furniture.  People complain about a lot of charity shops but quite honestly they provide a way for people with not much money to be able to buy what they need - and re-use is more important than even recycle!

The request for referral to committee for the mast has now been done.

Thursday 25^th

We had asked for a "round the table" meeting on the new Stockton Sixth Form College with the planning officer, engineer involved, ourselves as ward councillor over the road from the development and ward councillors from the ward it was in.  Julia and I had also invited the local police officers to the meeting.  The police had such a lot of useful input into the meeting it is completely beyond me why they are not invited to give their valuable input into all developments.

I was delighted to see that there was at last a mention of the Council taking on the issues of mortgaged rescue and seeing what could be done in partnership with others for local people caught up in events out of their control and losing their houses.

We hear that the request for the mast planning application to be heard by committee has to be on a different sort of form (not at all obvious) and have reasons for referral to fit in with the Local Development Framework or Local Plan.  Neither of which could be easily found on the Council's intranet.  Talk about obstacle courses.

Wednesday 24^th

I was so pleased that at a meeting this morning it was agreed that the Thornaby Chains, that used to belong to the old Thornaby Council, but after local government reorganisation became the Deputy Mayor of Stockton's chain, was going to be returned to Thornaby Town Council.  They have been asking for it back for years, and getting snubbed and rebuffed in the process.  John thought of a way of them having the chains back and others, the one's used by the former Rural District Council for the Deputy Mayor, and it has now been agreed.  This will matter little to many readers and many people, but it does matter a lot to many people in Thornaby.

The Citizenship Ceremony was wonderful yet again, with ages ranging from a few weeks to 83 years old, and it was good to see people making friends with other new Citizens.

The Markets Forum was transformed from a noisy confrontational meeting that went nowhere to a much more constructive and useful one.  I had done quite a bit behind the scenes, determined that there was a better way forward - and there was!

We have realised that the A4 leaflet now becomes and A3.  The price of lots of activity!

Tuesday 23^rd

A meeting with residents in on of our sheltered housing blocks was interesting and rewarding as always.  I was interested in their views on how the "older persons strategy" was working for them, and had left some information for them to look at at the last meeting.  They had identified a gap for them - the need for a "drop in" Centre in Stockton Town Cetnre, like there used to be.  Also they were completely unaware of the possibility of getting Direct Payments if a care package was needed.  I'll report both back to our Select Committee.

At ward surgery tonight we had someone with a complicated query about the cost of membership of "Splash", our leisure centre.  He had heard on the radio this morning that the Government was going to pay for the cost of all pensioner's swimming - so it must be coming in free mustn't it ?  I've winged off the query to the officer concerned - but I won't hold my breath on the Government coughing up the actual cost to Councils.  Would you ?

The form is retrieved for putting in a request for referral to committee for a planning decision, and filled in and submitted.

More Focus writing.

Monday 22^nd

Lots of catching up whilst our friends were out catching up with other friends.  So many people are upset, and understandably so, about the planning application for a mobile phone mast on Darlington Lane.  They are angry, worried and frustrated at a system that does not give them the information they want very easily and does not take into account the deep concerns that they have. Julia and I decide to have a real attempt at asking for the decision to be made by elected Councillors and not just officers.

We start putting the Focus, the regular ward newsletter that Liberal Democrat Councillors put out in their wards, together.  I don't know how we will fit all the activity into an A4 leaflet.

Sunday 21^st.

Party time.  All day open house for friends to come and meet our US friends.  No work, no politics, just friendship (with the odd bite to eat and glass or two).  Lots of things are important in life, and we spent many hours prioritising and planning in our civic lives, but you cannot beat friendship.

Saturday 20^th

Wouldn't it be lovely if all our constituents and the Council all went on holiday at the same time as us, and we arrived home without the pile of post and e-mails.

However we were thrilled to greet our friends from the USA coming to stay with us that we hadn't seen for 3 years.

Sunday 14^th to Friday 19^th September

Just a few thoughts relating to politics and life at home as we relaxed and slept.

The care taken with the architecture was impressive.  If the Spanish can put up buildings with a bit of flair, why cannot we ?  Why do we let developers just do what they want ?  If a Spanish town decides it isn't having any high rise apartments or night clubs why can't we ?

The apartments we stayed at had a very high star rating, but it made me wonder about why we put so much emphasis on "ratings" in both holiday accommodation and how Councils are run.  Where we stayed may have had high ratings, but it is no good providing a dishwasher with no instructions and finding the pans and glasses dirty.  No good having a swimming pool that doesn't open till noon.  No good having a restaurant that never had a menu.  No point in posh chairs if you couldn't sit outside.  Our Council in Stockton has many excellent ratings, but how much is it ticking the boxes and not doing well in areas that people really want.  I'm too mellow after a nice break to think of the details today.

Saturday 13^th September

A visit to a travel agent open later last night secured us another holiday.  We were all packed up and organised to go, so phew.  An hour or more spent trying to find out where the apartment was on the internet so we could drive there when we landed (wonder why there were vacancies on the flight!) in the small hours of the morning.

Just as well as even with some maps and supposed written directions it took a lot of finding, in Manilva in Spain.  Not the holiday we were looking forward to, but thankful for the opportunity to have a break.

Friday 12th September 

I awoke to the 6 o'clock news telling me that all Excel flights were grounded.  Thank goodness our neighbours are not attached to us as I yell downstairs to John, "who are we flying with ?".  I am reassured it is with Air Malta, but he thinks the word "excel" is somewhere on the documents.  It is.  Websites do not give us any detail so we ring Manchester Airport at 6.15 and are assured the flight is going.  So taxi arrives on time, we catch the train to Manchester Airport and are suspicious that the flight time has been changed to over an hour later.  However we join the queue of fellow travellers and people take it in turn to go to the desk serving Air Malta to find out what is happening.  The news got worse.  It went from them refusing to fly as Excel were paying them, but everyone was working hard to getting an alternative, to no it wasn't flying, to a sounding better yes it was, CAA were chartering it.  But then the bad news - the flight would only take 28 people - those that had booked packages with other travel companies.  Those like ourselves that were "flight only" would be left behind, and the plane fly empty.  Barmy or what ?

By then every possible space on any other flight going to anywhere in Greece had been snapped up.  No holiday or even meeting up with my sister.  Train back home L

We had had big problems with Excel 2 years ago on the flight home from Skiathos, and vowed never to go with them again.  The only good thing, and there cannot be many, is that they cannot mess around with people again like this now they have gone bust.

Commentators seem to be saying that this is the end of the era of "cheap holidays".  However when you think about it, we have no right to such.  What people can consider a "right" is to clean water, food, shelter, safety.  I could add the right to be told the truth too, but some would find that controversial!

The AGM of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust was the last duty before going away in the morning.  I always find things to enjoy in mayoral duties, but it is always special if it is to go to something that you have long supported.  We were both members of the Cleveland Wildlife Trust in the very early 1980's when it was founded, and have kept up support and interest ever since.  Like many things it works both ways, and I have been able to tap into their knowledge and information many times, helping the work of day to day being a Councillor.   Have a look on the Mayor's website for more information on the work they are doing and some interesting aspects of the Margrove Park Heritage Centre.

It has been a hectic week getting ready for going away first thing in the morning for a long planned holiday in Skiathos with my sister and her husband, followed immediately by a visit from old friends now living in the USA, and an all day "open house" the day after our return.  We never know who reads the blog, and you never know it might be burglars so can never really mention in  advance!  However, cases packed, neighbours in charge, house tidy, shopping for party arranged, goodies in freezer, we are actually ready of off!!!

The first of John's "open house" sessions at the Town Hall with the twin purpose of raising money for charity and giving people the opportunity to look round what is their seat of local government with a very interesting history.  It was a pity that more people did not come along, but there had been problems with the publicity, and issues around the central library noticeboard had not been resolved in time, along with other things that were out of our control.  However I did enjoy showing people round, and telling the stories of our heritage.  I was really pleased when one person asked if I came from Stockton, obviously noting the Yorkshire accent didn't quite match - but she thought I must as I had a real passion for Stockton and its famous people that showed through.  As I said to her, I have moved around such a lot when I was young I have never had any roots anywhere till I moved here, and people here have shown so much love and welcome - I suppose I do really belong now!

Even before breakfast I had submitted an amendment to Party Conference.  This is to the motion on Housing on Tuesday next week, making the points I referred to in my speech to Council on Wednesday last week and printed on the blog then.  I hope that it is taken, not all amendments are, and as I cannot be there, Jacquie Bell, our Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South will be moving it.

I was lucky to accompany John to a visit to the Stockton branch of Learning Links (Europe) Ltd in - an adult-training company offering information, advice and guidance to those who are looking to update skills or return to the labour market.  Learning Links take on clients of all ages and all abilities in a friendly environment.  At a short ceremony I presented certificates of achievement to clients and staff who had obtained national test qualifications there.

We were first invited to "have a go" on computer programmes which assessed our levels of literacy and numeracy.  Very interesting.  I did the literacy one which was concentrating on things like reading instructions for using an item, understanding a guarantee, what did a notice about a planning application actually say, taking a relevant phone message down properly.  I do wish that our schools did such training!

We then met a number of clients and staff, who explained to us some of the training opportunities offered.  They have a Learndirect centre in the building, with 

courses on offer in Maths and English, ESOL, IT and computing skills, and business and management.  charities.  The facilities include a UK Online Centre, where people can get help to start using the Internet for pleasure or use public services.   There is a "Wellbeing" course that sounded good and even complementary therapy by Nature's Ways - used by both clients and staff.  I have already suggested various ways of linking this into others in the field of encouraging people to do such.

I confess to having a peek in the kitchen and hope I've persuaded them to become a FairTrade workplace. 

There was also a display about Gardens for The Gambia, a charity set up by the authoress Dr Philippa Gregory to provide wells for water for the gardens of rural schools there.  The pupils learn sustainable agriculture, the vegetables grown feed children who would otherwise go without food and the profit on selling the surplus pays for stationery and educational equipment.  Dr Gregory lives with her husband, the company's Chief Executive, locally.  As usual there are pictures and some more information on The Mayor's Blog

Another couple there told us about Hands of Love UK, a local charity supporting Hands of Love Orphanage and School in Uganda. 

At the Local Strategic Partnership meeting tonight there was a change from our usual presentations.  Maureen Rigg, as Chair of the local Fairtrade Partnership was giving an unusual presentation about the need for Fairtrade.  She had a bunch of bananas costing 90 pence and split us into groups of workers, farm owners, exporters, importers and supermarket.  We had to say how much of the 90 p we expected to get.  You have guessed that it added up to much more than that!  And the workers got 5p.  Says it all doesn't it.

Sunday September 7th

When I was Mayor one the wonderful things was being invited along to performances of the Tees Valley Youth Orchestra and Tees Valley Youth Choir.  They really lifted my spirit.  It wasn't just the excellent music that they performed, but the way they did it with not only skill and commitment, but with passion and joy. 

They are not just a group of talented youngsters performing, though, they are a real team working together and that shows through.  The sum of the parts is definitely greater than the whole.  I came across an old "Mayor of Stockton Music Prize" for the promotion of music at the Grangefield Secondary School in the archives of the Council with some money unspent in it, and it hadn't been used for around 30 years. I decided to try to get the aims of the charity changed to be widened to the Tees Valley Music Service, top that up, and give a Mayor of Stockton Music Prize.  Because of the importance of them working together, I wanted it to be for those that had made the biggest contribution to the orchestra and to the choir.

Tonight was the night to make the first presentation of what I hope will last for around 10 years.  It was a great honour to be able to do this tonight part way through a splendid concert by the orchestra - with most of the choir there in support.  I was able to say that I did hope they would continue to lift the spirits of those they performed for; enjoy making music throughout their lives, and let the world know what wonderful and talented young people we have here in the Tees Valley.

Earlier in the day we met with international visitors - the Diocese of Durham in the Church of England has links with the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of North Elbiain Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany and two representatives from their Parish of Eddelak came to visit our Parish of Egglescliffe.  Our Rector (who is my Mayor's Chaplain) invited us to a lunch at which they met some members of our congregation and ourselves.

The visitors' command of English put our few words' of German to shame, although fortunately we had with us also two German members of our congregation and another who speaks German.  Pastor Volker Thiedemann had preached at Egglescliffe Parish Church and was accompanied by Frau Christine Boehm.  Egglescliffe and Eddelak Parishes are exploring the possibility of a link.

I did enjoy meeting them, and our discussions around our Churches as well as treatment of asylum seekers.  Most interesting was the talk around reconciliation and the International Centre for reconciliation based in Coventry Cathedral and the Community of the Cross of Nails.  Much work is yet to be done, and I hope that a possible link with their Church may be a step forward.  John's blog has the picture of them with our Rector looking at diaries to do just that.

Monday 8th September

I ought not to say too much at this stage, but it was helpful to have the opportunity to sit round the table with all the plans to talk through issues around a very contentious planning application in our ward.  I might not be happy with everything that happens next, but at least have had an opportunity to put forward the views of constituents in a way that speaking once for 3 minutes only at a committee cannot do.  The immediate result though is that a new planningapplicaiton for Bishopsgarth Cottages has to be submitted so the application cannot be heard now till October 15th - it turned out in the discussions that not all of the land outlined in the planning applicaiton is owned by the applicant.

Later in the day we were round the table again, this time for a ward surgery where I hope some progress was made on the problems encountered by an uspet resident, helped by the ward PCSO being there too.  Then the Bishopsgarth Associaiton of Residents when many issues were aired, views and information exchanged.  We are hoping for some positive progress on making the beck area look better.  I came home with a little pille of casework, but at least I know it is problems shared.   I was so busy I forgot to blog though!

Piles of paper are now piles of files. 

piles of vegetables are delicious ratatouille, and piles of apple and blackberry ready for the week.

Friday 5th September

The big news is that the bridge has been finally put in place today between Queen's Campus and the North Shore. A magnificent spectacle involving the largest mobile crane in the Country lifting the large arch into place.  I will put some more up to date links in tomorrow when the media catch up, but for now this is the most up to date photo you will get taken just as the crane was moving away.

The bridge symbolises a number of things, but as we were at the leaving party for Professor Martyn Evans, moving from Queen's Campus to Trevelyan College at Durham we talked of the bridge linking the relatively new, but established hub of University life in Stockton to the unknown but potentially exciting North Shore development.

I also reflected on how even in this academic setting, where there were many learned people and students it was the simple things that mattered.  Martyn spoke of how he had been happy at the Campus and how he had come to love Stockton.  Lots of complicated things go off in our lives, we have far reaching policies in our politics, and we attempt to develop our spiritual lives.  But what matters are very simple and basic matters - if we are happy and belong most other things fall into place.

On a lighter note - what a day to be going to the hairdressers, and thank goodness for my Tilley hat.  Not the height of fashion, but kept the hair dry !

Up and down meetings today.  A meeting about support for members in getting information left me disappointed.  I don't feel it is either reasonable or even possible for Councillors not on the Cabinet to be reading every Cabinet report in detail to extract bits of information that they might need, especially as most need to do this on-line so on the screen.  Nor should we have to monitor a number of websites daily to see if anything relevant has happened.  Nor can we reasonably scan all of the surrounding wards for applications that might impact on our ward.  Maybe some things will get better, but in all the years I have been a Councillor I have never found it so difficult to get basic facts, and yet never had so much "information" sent to me.  I feel like a mushroom - fed on rubbish and kept in the dark.  A bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea.

A meeting about the proposed Christmas Market Festival on 27^th to 30^th November sounds to be very good and well worth a visit to Stockton for that time.  Make a note.

Housing Select Committee was good and interesting in listening to various Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations) and being able to ask questions.  However I am furious at a Labour member pronouncing how wonderful he now thinks housing co-operatives are as if he thought of it in the first place.  There were massive arguments with him and his colleagues over my wanting such in Elm Tree 20 years or more ago.  If it wasn't going to be run by the Council it couldn't happen!  So we ended up with a mass of private housing and them even refusing to allow some much needed Housing Association houses as part of the development.  I won't bother waiting for an apology.

Then a meeting with John as Mayor with officers planning future events, much more positive, even though plans are being made around Christmas events.  The event next week though is a coffee afternoon in the Town Hall, with proceeds going to the Butterwick Hospice.  If you or someone you know has not been to the Town Hall yet, this is the opportunity to have a look round.

Nothing can beat spending a good hour reading changes in the constitution though, which is what had to be done tonight

I am furious with the Government making announcements sounding as though they are helping people about to have their homes repossessed, when most people needing it will get no help at all. 

Although the Government is going to reduce the time that someone will have to wait before they can claim for help with mortgage interest payments from 39 to 13 weeks if eligible for Income Support (IS) or income based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), many thousands of people will slip through the net.

The "help" on offer will not cover, for instance, those in danger of being repossessed that :

• 1. Have not actually lost their job, but are on shorter hours, or losing pay because of sickness.
• 2. Are now in fluctuating employment (common in a recession) where they have a job some weeks but not others;
• 3. Are not eligible for income based benefits such as IS or JSA as they have a partner who is earning something (not necessarily much), and adult non-dependent in the house who may not be contributing much,
• 4. Are in receipt of incapacity benefit, which is a low income just above IS level.
• 5. Have been paying their mortgage for many years and so are paying very little interest and now paying mainly capital repayments;
• 6. Have a second mortgage.
• 7. Have split up with their partner for whatever reason, including domestic violence, and so cannot afford mortgage repayments now.
I was able to speak at tonight's Stockton Council meeting

" It is cruel to hint that help is on its way, when for most people facing repossession there is no such help.  Most of those forced into working shorter hours or who are losing income because of illness, for instance will get no help under this scheme when it is brought in next year.  People will continue to lose their homes causing hardship and heartache, as well as disrupting children's education and having to move away from family support.  More Social Housing will be needed just to house those who have had their homes repossessed."

 I am advocating a much stronger support process including taking models used by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust which enables people to remain in their homes whilst the Trust buys back part of it and the occupiers pay rent.  This is complicated (but haven't we run out of easy solutions ?) and I will write more about another time.

For more news on the resurgence of the Labour / Tory deal see our Group Leader, Maureen Rigg's blog.

For those who may be looking at this blog for news of what happened at today's planning meeting about Bishopsgarth Cottages - all I will say for now is that it was deferred.  I feel it is wise to make no comment at this stage given the days happenings.

I do enjoy meeting visitors from abroad, and so enjoyed a visit from the Friendship Force with their guests from Los Angeles to the Town Hall.  I had the opportunity of a good chat over the buffet and it was interesting to hear how their local government worked.  Some of the issues that are common to us are the role of women, fitting in public work with families and jobs, and the ageing profile of volunteers generally.  The photos I was able to take do not really do them justice, and hope to replace them on the Mayor's Blog when those from a more skilled photographer wing their way over the Atlantic.

This afternoon was the official opening of the Stockton Town Football Club by Sir Geoff Hurst.  It does show my age that I can remember England winning the Cup in 1966!  The Club really does do excellent work with the young people playing football.  Time and again, as a councillor, we get complaints from people about youngsters with nothing to do and no good role models.  Young people tell us there is not much to do.  Of course football, or even the dance and drama are not for everyone, but there is going to be a lot of really good provision with some very able volunteers - of all ages!

The photos will be on the Mayor's Blog tomorrow along with a bit more information.

At last some progress on planning issues as we have finally got to the bottom of a rather complicated set of plans for a development in our ward.  Thank you to the officers for helping us with this.  A greater understanding helps everyone!