Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

Butterwick Hospice are planning to have an area where people can plant trees in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a happy event such as an anniversary.  I am so pleased that they are going to do this in our lovely Newham Grange Park in our ward.  I went along with members of Friends of Newham Grange Park today in the brilliant autumn sunshine to look at where the site might be.  A wonderful site for such a good cause, have a look at the webpage please.  John is planting the first tree on November 27^th so there will be some pictures of that then, but it would be the right time now to get a tree ordered.

Pity about the pouring rain on the walk back!

A lot of people will have been wanting to flatten me and put me out of sight for a long time, and today it happened!  I was in a time capsule, prepared by the local historian Mr Bob Harbron.  We were told that it included the Stockton Council leaflet with photos of all the councillors !  Norton Green was the scene at noon of a short tree-planting ceremony.  The Heritage Trees of the Tees Project is about celebrating lost or forgotten trees which are of historic or significant importance because of their size or age and which have no protection.  Groundwork Community Forests North East organised the planting of an oak (quercus robur) on The Green and were celebrating an ash tree, still standing, believed to have been planted in 1700 on the site of a plague pit.  The timecapsule had to be wrapped in a supermarket plastic bag - hopefully a thing of the past by the time it is dug up

In view of the coldness of the day, the Quakers had kindly allowed us to adjourn to the nearby Friends' Meeting House.  Here we were entertained by Mr Malcolm Green of A Bit Crack story-telling group to a riveting story very loosely based on the ash tree. 

I spent quite a bit of time during the day chasing up pieces of long forgotten casework, probably much to the horror of the officers receiving it.  I hope they won't flatten and bury me though - it is for the sake of our constituents!

Wednesday 29th October

Another ceremony to commemorate Captain Cook, this time where he was brought up in Great Ayton.  The preacher had an interesting thought.  What would Captain Cook have said about our current economic crisis ?  it covered issues like how people now are just taking what they can from life, regardless of the effect on others.  True.  Also as can be expected references to everything being rather rudderless and the likelihood of drifting onto the rocks.  We need to stop panicking and pull together!

Elsewhere I learnt of a Counselling Service now in Stockton - Stockton Community Counselling Service.  This helps people with or affected by drug and alcohol problems in a non judgemental and confidential way.  I was impressed with the attitude of the counsellors and how they talked about their work.  Do have a look at their website if you want further information on the work they do and how to access the service.

Today a lot was about light - conserving it where it could be and celebrating with light as a symbol of what is good.

I went along with John to the Asda supermarket at Portrack, as there was a display in their lobby about reducing heating bills.  The Council's Stockton Comfort Zone and the GoWarm Project were doing this jointly, giving away low-energy light bulbs, Power Down devices for computers and advice.  Unfortunately for them on the coldest day so far this autumn, those manning the stall were in conditions described on one of their cards as "risk of hypothermia"!

In contrast we were celebrating light on the evening at the Hindu Cultural Society for the celebrations of Diwali (Festival of Lights) at the Mandir in North Ormesby.  We had visited the temple previously when I was Mayor of Stockton, in the ceremonies in the run-up to the dedication of the statues of 17 deities.  That day the statues had still been behind a veil (although later we had seen a photo), so we were now looking forward to seeing them.  The effect was magnificent.  They had been carved in stone from the same quarry as the Taj Mahal, together with ornamental arches.

The ceremonies involved a lot of unaccompanied chanting in Sanskrit, but also two wonderful displays of Hindu dancing by the young people of the community, who had clearly put a lot of commitment in to their training - such that they could still perform beautifully, even though their teacher had been called to India suddenly and could not be with them.  The temple was a mass of flowers, garlands and lights - hundreds of tea lights etc and also coloured electric lights.

In his speech John touched on how most religions rejoiced in light and most Indian and European languages were anciently connected with Sanskrit.  He also said how lucky they were that commerce didn't spoil the effect of their lights for their special festival by having a "retail festival" for months before as is about to happen any minute now with Christmas.

The premises were crowded - standing room only was left for the service - with both young and old.

We were treated to a delicious traditional meal afterwards 

We were discussing the snappily titled "Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Stockton-on-Tees" at the "Health and Wellbeing" partnership.  Structures and positions keep changing in that world and as we went round the room introducing ourselves I did wonder if somebody mischievous in the depths of Whitehall was throwing a set of words in the air and seeing what came down - altering structures accordingly!  More seriously though we did have a good discussion on what we would like to add in if missing, and how to better engage people in the discussion.

Click on this link and then click on "Stockton" under the "Summary" section so you can add your views.  That is my bit for engaging people!  I am also putting something on my Council webpage soon.

My views on the document ?  OK, but whilst there is a concentration quite understandably on increasing the life span of the local population, I do not get the impression that quality of life features much.  Just thinking about the control of pain for long term non life threatening conditions, or the long term agony and discomfort some people have with skin conditions.  Neither are "measurable" so not "targets", but people with such get little practical or even emotional support, especially those that cannot afford extra help outside the NHS.  The group I was in was taking this on board in a way and saying we need to look at people's well being as a whole - and even their happiness.  Not too measurable unless the man in Whitehall stops juggling words and invents a smileometer.  Have a look at the document, see what you think and make your comments.

A wonderful day to be in Whitby, accompanying John celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Captain Cook.  The intrepid and brave explorer who went round the world, discovering the east coast of Australia.  Difficuilt for us to imagine how difficult it would have been to undertake such a long voyage without all our modern equipment adn knowledge.  Also lots of people will have thought he was mad!  However, as we heard in the sermon, he was a man not just of great intelligence, but he was a good listener and knew how to apply what he learnt.  A good psychologist too as we heard how he got the sailors eating Saukerat to prevent scurvy.  As so often happens good things get abused.  We used the new continent to dump our prisoners (althohgh that was probably a good outcome for them!) and didn't treat the native population well.  We are not, as a nation, too pleased when people from other countries come here bringing different cultures - but I am sure our tabloid press will tell us that is different.  Is it ?

I had a word with the representative of the Australia High Commission, telling him that I had blog readership down under and so could I have his photo please for my blog.  Hi Kirsty, this is for you ......

No official appointments - just a pile of work left from a busy week.  However after clearing the most urgent I was able to spend some time progressing my book on Brass Crosby.  After yesterday I was glad to spend some time researching the life of a man who strongly believed in justice, did his best to dispense it, and was prepared to suffer as a result.  If you haven't read about him before on the blog his was the Stockton born man who became Lord Mayor of London and in 1771 fought a battle ensuring that the proceedings of parliament were able to be published.  You will have to wait to read the book to find out more!

Today's events leave me wondering if there is any justice in the world, although tonight reminded me that the human spirit can shine through.

Worst first.  This afternoon I was at the "Hidden Voices" presentation at Teesside University.  I am writing more about what was said at the event at the end of today's blog.  It makes it more lengthy, but what was said must be known to a wider audience who must try to make a difference to what is happening in our Country in our name.

We heard how the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has been agreed by the UK for 17 years, but only apply it to British children and not those who are part of asylum seeker families.  I read the convention when I got home, and I am disgusted how this international convention is being flouted by my own country.  We heard from Alan Brice, Manager of Medical Foundation NE an expert in the field about the traumatic effect of detention of children in immigration removal centres like Yarl's Wood.  In our own Country.

We heard from a young man who had fled from the Cameroon about the degrading and traumatic treatment he has had since he arrived here.  This is happening in our own Country.

We saw a DVD on the effect on children of the policies they are treated under.  Horrifying, and in our own Country, under our own noses.

We heard of the work of Justice First, and the latest person to be suffering inhuman treatment at the hands of people from our own Country, and supposedly under our won laws,  Someone who has lived very near to where I live, and our won Citizens are doing this.  The final words were "We must not be blind to injustice".  Indeed.

Before that event I  had a call from a constituent who was in desperate need of a replacement boiler and radiators.  She had been awarded a grant to help, but the grant could only be spent with a named contractor, and they were charging a lot more than other local firms so there was a shortfall of £900.  Someone is on the make, and her family are cold.  Winter is only just beginning and how many more people are suffering like this, and will either be cold or have to get into extortionate debt to get warm.  Justice ?

Before that I had been to a meeting about housing issues in Newcastle, representing Housing Action NE.  All is not what it should be on the housing front, besides the recent effect of the "credit crunch", homelessness is becoming a numbers game on how numbers are recorded and assessed.  The human effect goes out of the window, and it is more difficult to track just who is homeless where, and how long it is before they are back to problems because of inappropriate placements and advice.  And where is the justice in that, we should be concerned about what is happening to real people, not juggling statistics.

You can imagine that I was feeling pretty down after a day of hearing and feeling for people at the receiving end of so much injustice.  However I had to go out and accompany John to an event.  I was glad I did.  The "Taste of Africa" event celebrating cultural diversity was just what I needed.  We were warmly welcomed and treated to an evening of music and dance; fun and laughter.  Children showing off their talent and lots of spontaneous joining in from them.  The hall was packed, and I found that of the Africans there around 40% will have come to this country to seek refuge, and even though some would be going through personal traumas, they were undoubtedly giving back their skills, and joy.

If you have read so far, here are some of the issues I heard about this afternoon in more detail.

Research, as well as experience has shown that abused children are substantially damaged for the rest of their lives.  In countries with adolescent soldiers the traumatic stress remains with those children.  The effects of such trauma can be shown in the US where more soldiers have died after committing suicide after returning home from Vietnam than actually died whilst there.  Adolescent girls are very vulnerable to sexual abuse.  We are talking of children who have witnessed parents being murdered or raped.  Mothers who have fled after becoming pregnant with a child of a rapist and all the issues around that.  These children and families that have been able to flee to countries such as ours deserve help and support - not to be put into places like Yarl's Wood and treated with much less dignity and respect than people born here.  The Medical Foudnation works hard and well with the families whilst they are amongst us in our communities, endeavouring to build up trust, honesty and empathy.   Am thankful they can do what they do, although so much more needs to be done.

We heard from a young man from Cameroon who had fled to this Country in fear of his life.  He had expected to be dealt with as a human being.  On arrival at Glasgow he had been handcuffed, nobody had helped him with the language as he then spoke only french.  He was put in a van and transported for 10 hours with no food, and not knowing what was happening.  He told of how he was moved around the country, but did get the chance to put his case to remain here to a tribunal, and how delighted he was that he was given permission to stay.  However the Home Office appealed against the tribunal decision (obviously got time and money to spare to do this).  There was the long story of how he was then buffeted around the legal system.  How we turned up 2 hours early for his appearance at a court in London, but they could not find his papers so he had to return to Middlesbrough.  How he was refused a lawyer for his case, but could not pay for one as he was not allowed to work.  How he tried to represent himself.  He is still being buffeted around the legal system some years later.  He found it difficult to understand that when British people saw appeals for clean water for children in Africa they were happy to give some money for them, but didn't care what was happening to African people here.  He has not spoken to his parents for 3 years, he cannot sleep, he is leading a life of perpetual limbo.  He said "I am not seeing any justice".  If you are still reading this are you ?

In the DVD we heard from a little girl about being taken out of school in Stockton to be sent to the removal centre at Yarl's Wood.  The effect it had on her, and the effect on her school was given by her head teacher.  The girl talked of her time in Yarl's Wood, of how frightened she was and there was nothing to do.  No-one to talk to, and she tried to keep her feelings to herself so as not to upset her mother further.  How she worked hard when at school, but could do nothing now.  She was helpless and could do nothing but pray.   That little girl was eventually released from Yarl's Wood as when all the evidence was seen the family were given leave to remain, but that trauma will be with her for ever.  And it all happened in our Country.

We heard from workers from Justice First what it is like for people to live in a state of perpetual limbo, and their overwhelming dread of return to where they had fled from.  How helpless people feel with not being able to work, and do what they can to study and do voluntary work.  How conditions in Yarl's Wood are bad, and gastro enteritis has been rife.  When there was a problem with the building people had to buy bottled water.  People with very little money having buy water.  In this Country.  We should be protecting people, not traumatising them.

It got worse with another story of someone who our immigration officers tried to deport last week.  How he was dealt with, and how the brutality of his treatment was overheard by people here via his mobile phone.  Those who do the "removals" are paid for success so if, as in this case, the removal was not successful, the person is beaten.  The refugee concerned was waiting for pain killers to be given to him the last time anyone was in contact with him.  His Christianity and his Faith are keeping him going, but letters and petitions are hurriedly being done in support of him remaining here.  This treatment is not in some third world country far away.  It is here.

I end with the plea made at the end of the session

WE MUST NOT BE BLIND TO INJUSTICE.

After a series of delays not helped by wind and water we have launched our NO2ID Card campaign.  Our Parliamentary spokesperson for Stockton South, Jacquie Bell was out there on the streets with us, and we made our big launch with Lembit Opik MP, pictured here with myself and Julia Cherrett.  The streets were cold and windy, but we were pleased at how people were happy stop and sign the petition.

Like all good campaigns we then enjoyed a relaxing and fun evening with some good food (Parkmore Hotel, Eaglescliffe can be recommended!) and an inspiring talk with and from Lembit.

The "Stand up for Poverty" weekend has broken all records, and 116,993,629  stood up for poverty throughout the world.   Let us hope that as well as breaking the record we can break the cycle of poverty "More people than ever before joined the fight against poverty and inequality and for the Millennium Development Goals during last weekend.  Their actions demonstrate that we can be the generation to end poverty. "

Having started off today by falling down (only one step but I was badly shaken and pained) I was grateful to be able to sit down for most of the day at "Are you being served well".  An excellent event for older people where I was impressed by the quality of the consultation.  Another copy of "The Golden Guide for Older People", packed with useful information was launched, and copies will be available in libraries etc or from Age Concern Teesside.  More innformation on the day on the Mayor's Blog.

Like the legendary curate's egg, some things good and some bad.

GOOD

At last the Government has taken note of the proposal I was putting last year, and Vince Cable has been demanding this for a while, and now a Government Minister has decided it is a good idea.  The idea ?  Keeping people with mortgage arrears in their homes using schemes for social landlords to buy equity in a home, rent it out to the people living there, and they can start buying again if circumstances improve.  More complicated than that, but a brief summary.

Then it looked as though there was some hope for work around the streams and becks in the ward that badly need doing.

The Action Plan on the Voluntary Sector review I chaired was coming along well.

BAD

Things turned when left some eggs hard boiling, was absorbed in work till I heard some explosions in the kitchen.  Not a "good egg" after all, and it was all downhill after that.

I don't think I am too popular today with my colleagues and Council Officers.  I have been on a training course on how to deal with an overflowing mailbox on my Council computer.  All very good, so I am keenly going through old e-mails.  However I keep coming across issues that haven't been properly answered and dealt with so a hoard of e-mails on top of my usual flow are going out with reminders and questions.  I am sure that the Officer in question is glad he left the authority as I found an e-mail stating very clearly that I was not at all convinced that work to the Mile House junction was going to solve the traffic problems there.  That was in 2003.

However I was pleased to see I was listed in the "Good Egg" awards for those of us bloggers not in the top winning elite

Justice First were launching their new recipe book tonight in the best possible way.  A fun fund raising evening with recipes to taste and eat!  You cannot get better than that!  Drumming and dancing made the evening special.  The recipe book, costing only £5.00 from Justice First on 01642 601122 has some tasty looking recipes in it.  However it is not all fun and games.  A number of people there have been through terrible trauma, are working with the most stressful of situations, and living in fear.  I was asked during the evening to be interviewed on a video camera on my views on children being taken into detention centres.  This was for I gladly gave them, and it reminded me of exactly what the fund and awareness raising was about.  The video will be shown along with others at the "Hidden Voices" event for United Nations Day at Teesside University on Friday 24^th October from 3 - 5.00 p.m.

The spirit of tonight is reflected in a sentence on the first page of the book.  " These recipes come from a troubled world, gathered by people seeking asylum and their supporters and passed on in a spirit of love and friendship"

Yarm Fair.  Brilliant.  I love the "Riding of the Fair" and seeing the bare back riders galloping up and down the High Street which is closed off to the usual traffic.  The usually outspoken speech from whoever is Chair of Yarm Town Council.  The gypsies camping on the cobbles, cooking their meals.  Hordes of families enjoying the buzz.   A time for those who have left home to come back and meet up with friends down at the Fair.  A good time to be had with none of the usual constraints of how we are supposed to do things.

The early evening came and we were back down in a family and friends group.  The Fair is extra special when you see the children so excited and eyes lighting up at the glitzy glaring lights.  I love seeing families walking down to Yarm, and coming back home with their "winnings".  We can only cope with it for a few days a year, but what a few days! Now for cracking open the coconut.

Friday 17th October

A day of standing up for what we believe in, in more ways that one. 

There is more on The Mayor's blog (on Monday) but as well as "Standing Up" the Carbon Savers event was excellent.  Real commitment from volunteers from different parts of the Council who were doing their bit in promoting ideas to save the carbon footprint.  I've forgotten the figures but it is frightening to realise how much we all waste.  I really am determined to turn off all the bits attached to the computers at home every night and the mobile phone charger.  I know it is obvious, but working on climate change has a direct effect on world poverty issues.

The Fairtrade wine tasting event was fun an well as a chance to do quite a bit of sampling.  Rather than talk about it here, I'll refer to you to Maureen Rigg's blog as I couldn't say it better.  Like the previous event, buying Fairtrade has a direct effect on dealing with world poverty.

The photos are now on the Stand up For Poverty website.

Preparations for "Stand up against Poverty Day" tomorrow.  Are you doing anything ?

Then a visit to the hospital.  Only for a routine screening, but still the problems of getting there.  A great search for a parking spot (couldn't fit in with going on the bus as so much else to do before and after), scrabbling around for change - and not loose change either, £2.80 is quite a lot.  The a long expedition along corridors to find the department - you need to be fit!  I then visited a friend who is thankfully recovering from a stroke -at the opposite end of the hospital.

So my thoughts.

Personally I don't mind paying for car parking, I am getting a good service free at the hospital. However not everyone can afford it, what if I have to keep going back for tests ? what if I was a daily visitor to my friend ?  The availablilty of parking bothers me - how much fuel wasted driving round and round to find a space - and not a hope of moving the car from one end of the hospital to the other.  I only hope at the new planned hospital they do not only think of transport to the hospital, very important though that is, but how to move around within it,

Today there was a debate in Parliament about access to Health.  The issue of 0844 numbers to access health was brought up, and quite right too.  It seems the Minister is going to do something about it - but when ?  in the meantime some people are having to pay for the privilege of ringing to make an appointment, or change it, or ring for test results, ...... Free at point of delivery - I wonder.

Wednesday 15th October (later on!)

I've only just found out it is Blog Action Day with the theme of Poverty, so I am allowing myself (well, who is in charge round here!) a second blog of the day - even though you will read this first.

I wrote last week about STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY, and since then have arranged to do a session at our Church on Sunday morning, e-mailed around 50 people encouraging them to do it, and John, as Mayor, is leading several sessions at events he is at including Carbon Savers event in Stockton Library, Fairtrade Wine tasting on Friday night, and Justice First launch of their recipe book on Sundday night.  Most encouraging of all is he is leading a "Stand Up" event in front of the Municipal Buildings at 1.00 p.m. on Friday of Council employees. 

So come on the rest of you blog readers - what are YOU doing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday ?  see the website for details of what to do and how to register.

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Democracy Day dawns.  The first element of democracy is it takes time - so a large pile of bags are packed with all the papers for the day, items needed, and of course we need 2 picnics as no time to come home.

People were waiting for us at the Town Hall and around 40 people came in to have a look round, go on Kevin's famous tour, and hopefully learn a bit more about our democracy.

Throughout all of this frantic e-mails and phone calls were taking place about the afternoon's planning committee with officers.  Very difficult to describe that window change we needed to push for!

A break from the Town Hall to get to the Planning Committee, and my very large pile of papers for Bishopsgarth Cottages.  I was allowed to make my points and it did seem as though everyone understood.  Predictably it was agreed, it may not have been able to win at planning appeal (heard by a Government Inspector, not locally) but at least the committee agreed  to insist on the window change and the Head of Planning said some stern words about the new hedge and tree planting taking place this season.  What I will never understand is how a replacement for 2 small agricultural cottages (one described by the Cleveland Archaeology Department as 2 storey and the other as 1 ½ storey) could end up with 18 bedrooms between them !!

Back to Democracy Day at the Town Hall.  First a school then college students.  I do hope they both enjoyed the visit and learnt something.  It is sometimes difficult to know what will most interest them, but we try.  I do wonder if they might ever consider becoming a Councillor!

Then Council meeting. A good if very complicated debate on planning issues with a change to how appeals are dealt with if Councillors do not agree with Planning officers.  Delighted that for a change 2 sensible amendments were passed on a narrow but definite vote.  Democracy for you.  I did speak on some planning issues though.  It is clear that so many Councillors are fed up of having to vote for plans they are not happy with, and people do not want - but government rules make it so difficult and even impossible for people to be listened to. 

Democracy may rule OK, but with tight rules like that it does make a mockery of it.  Very sad when you look at the commitment of so many people across political parties.  Planning Committee had sat for 4 and a half hours; many Councillors as well as ourselves had not been home all day, and were hungry and tired by 9.00 p.m.   Will future generations bother to put themselves through all of this ? I hope so, but I hope it will be more worthwhile with a genuine chance of exercising a local democracy.

The decision for the phone mast has been made by the Council Officers.  No surprises there.  Many people will be very disappointed indeed, well over 100 had put in objections.  However Government rules make it so the Council officers had little choice in the matter.

We expected a barrage of people at ward surgery, but none came - maybe they had not found the news out yet.  So we were able to spend some time working through the Bishopsgarth Cottages planning application due at Committee for decision tomorrow.  It took ages.  3 sets of drawings for every view.  How it has been built, what the latest planning application says it will be like, and what the original planning application looked like.  Ideally all should be the same, but sadly not.

Although there was much we did not like, and more importantly our constituents did not like at all, we did not think we were going to be able to persuade the committee to refuse the application and get the developer to take off 2 roofs and build to the lower one originally planned.  So we would concentrate on getting an ugly doorway back to the original one planned.  Also we are worried that the very necessary planting will not get done as it should this winter.  Another almost midnight job getting it all typed up.  Would it be worth it ?

I've finally got to the bottom of a mystery about a wrong phone number for the  Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers.  This has been rumbling on for days now, with me giving the number on the Neighbourhood Watch bookmark to people and them not being able to get through.  Arrangements were made by the Council for the number to automatically divert to the Security Centre. They said it worked.  I said it didn't - for the good reason it didn't!  Then the penny dropped by an eagle eyed officer - there was a misprint on the bookmark. So please note if you are a reader in Stockton Borough - the number is not as on a bookmark you may have but 07970 266 660.  Someone will be in trouble!

This morning at Church we heard about the plight of a young doctor from Afghanistan.  A doctor whose mission was no more than to save people's lives, but changes in government meant that he was continually being accused of supporting the other side in his role in treating injured soldiers.  With death threats to him and his family he had to flee and weeks were spent trudging through mountains with a small child, baby and wife.  Thankfully that man is now safe in this Country.  We know the story is true, because it was being told by his sister.

Later I saw the headlines about the large house the Afghanistan family in Ealing were living in, and worse the racist comments that were posted on the internet as a result of this.  We know nothing of the circumstances of why she was there, and there may be justifiable criticism of the Council or landlord, or even the government system of allocating homes or housing allowance.  But we don't know.  All the headlines screamed out was that it was someone from Afghanistan in the middle of it.  Surely the paper could have done something to find out some facts before printing - but why let the facts get in the way of a selling headline.

An evening of "Amazing Praise", accompanying John.  I was struck by Jon Burns vision to take 350 "England Fans" out to Africa to do what sounded like hard and necessary work to make a dfference out there.  What a vision!  Then the plans for "Street Pastors" in Stockton as are working so well and making a difference in 70 other towns already.  I was amazed at the commitment that volunteers were going to put in, not something I could do, but if it makes a difference I wish them well.

I was pleased to see, on one of the number of visits done today, that Tristar Homes had adopted "You said, we did".  Around 3 years ago when I chaired the Housing Select Committee on Tristar Homes need to its "Access to Services" my committee came up with recommendations called "39 steps to 3 stars".  One of the steps was to adopt a scheme I saw elsewhere in the research done of providing a feedback box with little cards for people to fill in.  Then publish the results.  So when I saw the "we said you did" box I was delighted.  Also it reminded my how Tristar had responded to the need for a goal post on land next to one of their estates in our ward - and working with others they provided just that !

The whole reception area was a credit to them, and I was so pleased to see a number of our recommendations taken up.  I am so pleased that the Customer Service Excellence award has been awarded to them.  It reminds me that sometimes people do take notice of work we do as Councillors.

There are more photos and details on The Mayor's Blog.

When I was Mayor 2 years ago I did this, and wrote about it on my blog adding 219 names.  The idea is that between 17th and 19th October as many people as possible "Stand up for poverty" for one minute.  A powerful message needs to be sent to those with power to eradicate world poverty, so the organisers are aiming to break the Guinness Book of records of 43 million people standing up worldwide.  The aim is for 67.5 million this year, and that will be 1% of the world's population.  It is not just about breaking a world record of course, it is about breaking the tragic cycle of world poverty.  I am making plans for those days, so go on, look on the North East Stand up for Poverty website, or the international one.   encourage everyone else you know to do it at whatever they are doing on those 3 days. Register it on their website and record it afterwards. 

It doesn't matter where in the world you live - Go on - just do it !!!!!

A day showing some hope, which was very encouraging.  I was accompanying John to the "matriculation ceremony" for Durham University held at the Cathedral.  This is the formal entry of new students to the University.  As I walked into the cathedral I could almost feel the buzz of excitement and anticipation from the students.  I was surprised to hear that there are students from 130 countries now at the University.  A whole Cathedral full of young hope for the future!

I heard the Vice Chancellor's speech 4 times, but surprisingly didn't get bored, and even felt inspired, and wished I were younger to be able to be there myself as a student.

He talked of the responsibilities of being a student but also emphasised the freedom to think for yourself;  to think critically; to challenge conventional wisdom; to have open minds; think broadly and have confidence without complacence; remember that community is bigger than yourself.  You don't have to be a student at Durham to do all of that, or the brains to get there. 

If only we were all encouraged to follow these lines.

It was when he talked of the University providing education not training that I realised how I feel a round peg in a square hole in a "modern" Council.  The emphasis is on getting us trained to think and act as those with greater power  want us to be.

It is too revolutionary to think that Councillors could be encouraged to follow the guidelines the Vice Chancellor spoke of - but just think of the results.  We might even not need a revolution

I dislike murky waters.  I will say no more.

No reference to the nice event where I met a lady from Arthritis Care.  The local branch meets in St John's Church just off Durham Road on the third Tuesday of the month in the evening, and new people are welcome.  My full admiration goes to people who are suffering from problems themselves but put themselves out to organise events for others with similar problems.

The Annual General Meeting of the Bishopsgarth Association of Residents tonight.  It was what a community should be doing, and our real role as Councillors.  A number of people had come along for the "Bishopsgarth in Bloom" completion, now in its third year.  I had given a silver salver when I was Mayor for the best garden, to be awarded annually, and John, being Mayor this year had been the judge.  A difficult job that I was glad that all I had to do was take the photos as we went round.

However decisions were made, the salver presented to the winner; a bottle of wine donated by the local Sainsbury's to various other winning categories; and Fairtrade chocolate donated by the Mayor for children in the sunflower competition.  I was rather pleased that the school was able to use the memory stick with the photos I had taken to put a continuous display of the gardens on the screen on the wall, so everyone could see the really nice gardens that do so much to lift the estate.

I'm not so sure the Council officer who came along from Care For Your Area was so happy the photos were there as people were pointing out how bad the pavements were!  Lots of complaints about pavements, and not surprising either given the state they are in.  We may be on of the most excellent Councils in the land, but rough, scruffy pavements don't impress the residents.  There just isn't enough money in the budget we are told.  Time to reassess the amounts ?

The chairman gave an update on what the group had been doing and were planning; The school gave a report on how they were working with the community, the PCSO an update on what they were doing; as Councillors we talked about our environmental improvement ideas; we all talked about ideas for planting, new play equipment, and other local issues.

An excellent Residents Group indeed - and a chance to be real Councillors and not ticking a box or being "strategic" but doing nothing.

The sun shining tempted us out and away from all the good intentions to get on with my book, sort my photos and all of the other things on the list.

We didn't regret it though, having a lovely walk in nearby Thorpe Perrow.  It smelt good (autumny); looked good ( leaves just turning); sounded good (birds singing, rustle of leaves, children playing); felt good (sun on face, fresh air), lets face it, it was good.  We are so lucky to have such lovely places nearby, who said that people only want to live in the south of England ?

An exciting and interesting day at Sheffield at the Fairtrade Conference.  I will write more when I have time as there was so much that happened.  One of the best things, though, was the video link with cocoa producers in Ghana.  People could talk to them direct, although all I did was smile and wave !  at the end of the questions someone asked if the cocoa farmer wanted to say anything to us.  He did - "eat more chocolate, Fairtrade chocolate"!!  well who is going to argue with that !

I will post the photos and more bits another day.

I know it is cheating but Maureen Rigg's blog has a good write up!

Yes, we won the Kirkleatham by election.  Great.  The figures show it all.

LD John Hannon 1031 (56.4; +25.5)
Lab 486 (26.6; -15.9)
Con 204 (11.2; -15.5)
BNP 106 (5.8; +5.8)
Majority 545
Turnout 36.8%
LD gain from Lab
Percentage change is since May 2007

Highlight of the day was a visit to TFM radio for the presentations to children who had won the "zig zag" competition.  This was a competition for children to design a plaque to get the message over to people who will park (illegally) on the zig zag lines outside school.  Such parking annoys me intensely.  It is dangerous to children walking, unnecessary and selfish.  I thought it a brilliant idea of TFM, and Wayne Allen did such a good job of rightly praising and encouraging the children.  He may well be talking about it on his show from around 11.00 a.m. in the (Friday) morning show if you have the chance to listen in.

If money can be found the plaques will be able to be put outside all of the schools who have zig zag lines.  I only hope that, and the 200 children who took part and will be pestering parents to behave will have some effect.  The pictures will be on The Mayor's Blog, and on the TFM website.

Apart from some ward work (ironically problems of people parking in front of the entrance to the bin store at Lauder House so they could not get emptied!)  the rest of the day was spent in Redcar helping at a Council by election.  Much of the last week or so has been taken up with problems of planning.  I cannot think how the area I was in was ever given planning permission, and I am sure it was not "planned" - looked like the developer had thrown a pile of lego bricks down and left them.  But then it appears that all sorts of wrong developments can get permission just like that. Added to which the Council had added few street nameplates and many people did not have numbers on the doors.  Madness.

I will see what the result is in the morning with interest.

I haven't been able to make my voluntary work for a number of weeks but they were kind enough to welcome me and not ask who I was!  It is a pleasure to work with such nice other people.

A 70^th wedding anniversary was next - I didn't even know there was such a thing, but it is called a platinum anniversary.  A really lovely couple that were an example to all of us.  I liked their advice for a long and happy marriage.  Don't sleep on an a row, don't let an argument linger.  I had to smile when he said "I say what I like", and she responded "and I do what I like", but it was obvious neither would upset the other.  More including pictures on The Mayor's Blog tomorrow.

Focus delivery time, and taking bundles round to the good volunteers who count, deliver to deliverers, and deliverers themselves.  All willing to help.  Again, what nice people.

Straight from that to the Calor Awards where I was acting as mayoress and met lots of really good people working hard in their villages to make like better, and a greater community.  You could feel the community spirit when you walked into the room.  More information about winning villages Thorpe Thewles and Long Newton along with the photos on John's Blog again.