Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

It is now almost two years since a Council committee kicked into touch a request that BRASS_CROSBY.DOC be commemorated in some way by the Council, given that he was born in Stockton (1725) and his work made such a difference to how democracy works not just in this Country but throughout the developing world at that time.  The request was deferred so that a policy was worked out on how people could be commemorated.  In fairness it has only taken 2 years!  Anyway Brass was given a good reception so we will see what develops next.  Other people considered were Will Hay and Harold McMillan.  The public are going to be asked if there is anyone that they would like to put forward for some sort of commemoration, so if you have any thoughts get in touch.

I intend to make lots of progress on my Brass Crosby book over the Christmas break (as well as relax, sleep, play with granchildren, relax, sleep, cook good food from basics, go for walks, do some shopping, relax and sleep) so I won't be blogging unless strongly moved to do so.

Here is wishing all readers (don't know how many this month as the stats counter is not working) a happy and peaceful Christmas time.

I'm determined to clear the decks, make sure important case work is dealt with, the area around the computers tidy, kitchen surfaces tidy, places to put Christmas Cards tidy ......

Well it was a good intention 

We all know where good intentions go though ......

An awful start to the day with one thing going wrong after another.  Yet another Bishopsgarth Cottages planning application, this time wanting to remove the hedge they had been told to keep and no doubt other things I have not had time to look at yet.  My repeat prescription had been lost and there was no time to wait for the duplicate.  Someone in the ward was cross with me for delivering a consultation letter on a local issue - turns out he had "already said no" but this was to the MP who had done some asking but not told the Councillors.  There was another row elsewhere that was nothing to do with me but I got caught in the cross fire.  Endless bureaucracy means that 2 families are going to be cold and have no heating or hot water into the new year at least.  One had been told "lots of people will be cold over Christmas".  Next time you hear a Government boast that it is doing things about keeping people warm - treat with utmost cynicism.

So I was not feeling in the best frame of mind for the beginning of John's Civic Carol Service.  Then I saw how many people had gathered round in the High Street to join in with the Carols, and there were lots more people in Stockton parish Church when we moved into there.   They too have no boiler but we were able to dress up warm for the time we were in there, and the welcome was warm.  Everything dissolved away when we had the presentation of the Peace Light.  This light has come from Bethlehem, by air, rail and sea, from a war torn country bringing a very simple message of Peace, Goodwill, and the power of light to overcome darkness.  The light was brought to Stockton from Darlington Station by Redcar Scout Leader Arthur Woof and his wife, and it really did feel that goodness was shining through.

Not everything went well for the rest of the day, the prescription was lost yet again, more problems in the ward, but all seen in a different light, and I met one of the people causing an upset earlier in the day who apologised profusely.  Yes, Christmas is coming!

Neighbourhood Watch and No Cold Calling Zones were the subject at our scrutiny committee today.  I would be very interested to hear from anyone about their experiences with either, whether you are from Stockton or elsewhere.

Are you a member of a Neighbourhood Watch ? do you get communication from them ?  is it useful ? does it make you feel safer ? does it make a difference ?

Also No Cold Calling Zones.  Is the greater good of there being less vulnerable people called on by unscrupulous people making it worth the potential loss of freedom of (innocent) people to go where they wish ?  Just asking.

I keep on giving you all my opinions, and am always interested to hear yours, but now in particular I want your views on these 2 issues.

This morning it was the monthly Citizenship Ceremony in our Town Hall when there was the usual nice atmosphere of expectant people, and I always sense the relief of anyone from Zimbabwe who is making the final last and important step to be able to stay here in safety.  Another batch of good future citizens I am sure from Countries around the world from Zimbabwe and Togo, to India, Thailand and Brazil.

At the Age Concern Carol concert in the afternoon we were entertained by a lovely children's choir from Lockwood School, and the Abingdon Primary School steel band which was terrific.  Apparently there are children from 35 countries at that school - and a very melodious sound they made too!

Tonight I have been with our local Justice and Peace Group writing Christmas Cards to people we are asked to do so by Amnesty International to give the people vital help and support.  Reading the supposed crimes of some and the atrocities they are suffering is difficult but we each play our part in trying to make a difference to them, and cards have gone off to places ranging from Guatanamo Bay, Nigeria, Kenya, Laos and Moldovia. 

In the middle of all of this I find out more about the next steps in the campaign for stopping the NHS from using 084 numbers, costing patients more money than it should.  The consultation document the Government has launched is on the website so please do take a look, make sure that other interested people know about it, and make representations, make a fuss, and let the Government know what you think about the issue.  I have had a call today from one person who had read my blog yesterday, so do get in touch and let us pool ideas.

I heard this morning that things were going to happen in Parliament about the use of expensive to use 084 numbers in the NHS.  Great.  Then I heard that it was more likely that all that was going to happen was a 3 month consultation.  Wow.  After all of this time, and over 28, 000 signing an "e" petition to the Prime Minister they are thinking of consulting people.  So people in need wait.  Again.  One of the biggest reasons for expensive calls is people having to hang on paying far a call whilst the line is busy.  Is the NHS free at the point of use for those who need it ?  Or only for those who are not having to make lengthy phone calls to GP surgeries or hospitals.

Later on I was kept waiting.  It took me 30 minutes to post one parcel that took less than a minute to process, walking to the Town Centre Post Office from the Town Hall.  There was a long queue and lots of complaints that people's local post office had closed down so they were having to make the extra long trips to find a post office, and then queue for ages.  Those I felt most sorry for were those who needed to queue for their money each week and had to wait even longer because of the "seasonal" users like me turning up.

Just who makes these rules up I wonder.  I heard tonight that in an extension to a listed building some of the work in some categories can be VAT exempt, but not others in no logical order with a similar silly set of rules for VAT on fees (and not the reduction on VAT  is not going to make much difference).  I light-heartedly suggested that a lady who is going to be laid up after an operation and does crocheting does the cosy for the toilet roll - but apparently that is not allowed any more for H and S rules.  Nor can children play with the cardboard on the inside of toilet rolls.  I ask you.

Then  I hear about a family with a 15 year old daughter who have no heating and hot water after their system broke down.  Why ? the grant needed to cover the cost for this low income family falls short by £900 and the family cannot cut down on the number of radiators  needed as the rules say children under 16 have to have a radiator in their bedroom.  They cannot afford that so she gets no heating and no hot water. I ask you.

An elderly lady had replied to the planning department when asked for her views on a nearby planning application, and she had listed some problems of concern about her community safety.  But rules in the planning department say that letters are not answered or even passed on, so nobody has even looked at the issue, and as far as she is concerned she has complained to "the council".  I am checking nobody has looked at it, but I've got letters printed off to take in tomorrow if they haven't!  So I've asked - but I ask you.

Rules.  Grrrr.

Everywhere we go people are saying "are you ready for Christmas", always expecting the answer "no, and I'm panicking"!  However today has been a No Politics day (well just bits of casework).  For us the most important bit of "getting ready for Christmas" is celebrating the Advent season, and one of the traditions at our Church is lighting a different candle each week on the advent ring.  There is preparation of the spirit which I do think is more important than all the other bits.  However progress has been made, and cards are written, presents almost wrapped, and lists of food shopping about to be drawn up.  Gifts for local charities have been organised and gone or about to go.  We did enjoy getting the Christmas tree from a local farm today, and the "Christmas Box" is down from the loft.

It does make me think about politics,  about how much time we spend reacting to issues that, usually unwelcome arrive in front of us, and how much time we spend planning for what may lie ahead.  Of course many of our crises are foretold , and we don't listen ?  But I would be getting very biblical in a political blog to expand on that one - but think about it.

There is virtually no sign of "Christmas" at our house yet, but we are "getting prepared".  We have had 12 months notice though!

We went to be part of a seminar led by BBC  broadcaster Mike Thomson, Foreign Affairs Correspondent for the BBC Today programme, on the problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Tresor Bukasa, locally, has been telling us for a long time that the world needs to wake up to the problems there, we have known because of the issues facing our friend who was deported there earlier this year, and the theme of the event was rightly "Breaking the Silence".

It is so difficult to believe that not only are such atrocities taking place, but the rest of the world appears to be indifferent.  6 million people have been killed in the more recent conflict; 45,000 continue to die each month.  Yes each month, imagine that as part of a town where you live.  Hundreds of thousands of women are being raped and we heard that even though the rapists are often known, the authorities there do not want to know.  Does the rest of the world think that is the sort of thing that happens deep in the jungle, so it is alright ?  Yet those women, those families, those people are people just as we and our families are.

We heard the most harrowing accounts of what one woman had gone through that Mike Thomson had not only met, but been able to track down later to follow up.  I am not going to begin to describe the horrors that we were told, and yet that woman was not wanting revenge despite what she had gone through,  she just wanted peace.

What is the bottom of all this violence and war ?  Why has the country been going through such terrible times since the Congo was given to King Leopold II in 1885.  A clue.  Congo is very rich in minerals, and has 64 - 80% of the world's reserve of Coltan; 34% of the Cobalt and 10% of its copper.  It is the second largest rain forest in the world and has the hydro capacity to provide electricity for the entire African continent, Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East.

So what is the rest of the world doing about the human atrocities ?  How much are the well developed countries responsible for the rape and pillage of the natural resources leading to these atrocities ? 

I don't know, but we are urged to become a friend of the Congo, learn more, get involved and make contact with the Bridge North East Campaign at bridge.northeast@yahoo.co.uk

I've not written for a week - blame bugs!  I'll start off with a nice one though - we were at Headland's School Christmas Play at Haxby - Creepy, Crawly Christmas, where our granddaughter was one of the many bugs - but the best ladybird in the whole wide world !  We enjoyed the excellent performance put on by the school, and were reminded that none of these things can happen without a lot of effort from the staff, parents support and of course the children really getting into the spirit of things.  I have been to 7 Christmas events since I last wrote and despite people assuming I must be fed up of them - no, I have enjoyed every one of them, each was different and had a new angle on Christmas and what matters.  I've put some more of the Haxby photos at the bottom - Grandma's prerogative !

Now the bad bugs.  I was taken ill with a nasty sickness bug which has knocked me sideways, although back on my feet, and it hit John 3 days later.  Nasty and very inconvenient when we are so busy!

Middling bug - trying to sort out a new anti virus set up on my computer as the one I was using was getting over enthusiastic getting at bugs not there, and causing problems.  That has taken up "computer time" when I would have liked to be blogging.

In the midst of all this I haven't really stopped - getting the last of the Focus leaflet out; dealing with a great variety of casework - but people really bugged by wanting more salt bins and extra gritting of roads.  I difficult one as the Council has been working flat out to cope with the awful weather. 

Bugs should know their place - and stick to being beautiful ladybirds.

Friday 5th December

At the "Care for your Area" awards today I was immensley proud at our local group who work so hard with Newham Grange Park were given an award.  Well done

Dinner with Vince Cable in Newcastle tonight was top of my agenda for the day, but everywhere was blanketed with snow and road closures everywhere.  However rain clearing the snow made the difference and I got there.  Wonderful to meet lots of old friends there too that I have worked and campaigned with for years. Vince's speech and the way he answered questions was brilliant - but what else would I expect.

Some of the points that he made that have stayed with me.

• We would have had a problem in this Country even if the rest of the world had not gone into economic crisis.
• Lib Dems have been leading the debate on what needs to be done.  The tragedy is that much has not been done straight away, and other things not done as they should - for instance "cutting taxes" should have been cutting income tax for the low paid not cutting VAT that will help few.
• There must be strong public investment in things like Social Housing, which not only helps people in need but creates jobs.
• We need to beware of xenophobia creeping in whilst everyone is concerned about the future.  It is always easy to blame "immigrants" rather than look at the true cause and answer.
• Independent polling has shown that Lib Dems are ahead of the other 2 parties on 2 issues - honesty and listening to the concerns of ordinary people (that should cover everything !)
• We must not lose sight of the urgent need to protect our environment, and "credit crunch" is no excuse for not making it a priority ! indeed spending money on insulation of all houses creates jobs too.
• A new word is about to appear.  "Quantative easing"  - it means "printing money" - so beware! And you read it first here.

Warrants and Parliament are the talk of the day, and it reminds me that I must get on with my Brass Crosby book!  Way back in 1771 there was the famous case when Brass Crosby (born in Stockton and former Mayor of London) was called on to deal with the printer who had greatly upset the Parliament of the day by printing who said what.  Parliament was angry! How dare he, it just was not allowed in those days!  However the Sergeant at Arms sent a messenger with a general warrant to arrest the printer and take him in front of Brass Crosby as Chief magistrate.  Brass was having none of this though.  He declared that as the warrant did not say who it was issued to arrest; what the office was; and who it was issued by - the arrest was illegal and instead he had the messenger arrested, letting the printer go free.  Not only did this lead eventually (you will have to read the book to find out how) to parliament having to allow who said what to be printed, it is reputed to be the last time ever that a "general warrant" was issued.

So we have a Stockton man to thank for some of the freedoms we take for granted, but please, please do get in touch if you know about the issue of warrants after 1771.  I do want to get the story right!.

More working together today, as I went to the Hardwick Dene meeting about progress on the natural areas of Hardwick extending down to Elm Tree.  I met a Council officer afterwards at the corner of Newham Grange Park to discuss the improvements we could make to a part where motor bikes were zooming through and causing problems in a rather scruffy looking part.  Using some of our Environmental Improvement Budget, some Council money and working the Friends  of Newham Grange Park I am hoping we can make a difference there.

After a cold session delivering letters along with our regular Focus to residents living near to other environmental improvements we are planning I wasn't home long before going out again to a meeting about progress in general in Newham Grange Park.  Again, good to sit round the table and share ideas with the officers and move on to make it even more a very special park.  In about 5 years such a difference has been made the Friends of the Park.

I was so pleased at the Bishopsgarth Association of Residents to be able to talk about progress on so many local issues with them, especially the possibilities of new play facilities for young people there.  It was what I like doing best - working things out with all interested parties round the table - ourselves as Councillors, residents, school and police.  It was difficult to think that is was exactly 4 years ago that the first survey went out in Bishopsgarth asking what they were concerned about - and 4 years on we have gone a long way together in both the formation of the Residents Association and progress on road safety and making the  local environment better - together.