Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

Wed to Friday.  Some good news to punctuate a few days of lots of work, crises and being very stiff and tired.  Can't be swine flu as no temperature. 

The "Citizens for Sanctuary" march (see Lifting the Spirit, 9th July) has had a successful outcome in that the Borders Agency have now said that from mid September asylum seekers in Middlesbrough will no longer have the long and unnecessary walk to Stockton to "sign on", and they will be able to do so at Middlesbrough Police station.  A success for a dignified and peaceful way of making a point.

Another protest in the making has been real worries from the Voluntary and Community sector, extremely worried about how the funding to their support organisation may be cut in a funding review.  As in the above, it is important to know exactly what you can and cannot do in any sort of protest to make your views known in a way that can be heard in a proper fashion if you are going to change hearts and minds.

Getting a team for the African side for the John Owens Trophy match on Sunday has been more of a headache, involving traipsing around in a park in Middlesbrough in the dusk, but hopefully it is all sorted for Sunday (1.00 pm at the Norton Sports Complex on Station Road, Stockton).  Please come along to support if you can, it is to celebrate the legacy of a young man, John Owens, who played in a mixed race team but died suddenly of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and funds raised go to a charity into research for that.

ward surgery swung from one issue to another - but a common theme.  you couldn't really imagine that vandals / thieves would remove fencing from a property and then remove the contents of the garden would you.  But they have.  Then we hear of a large company that has savaged some trees, albeit accidentally, but they are professionals.  We don't know if they are breaking the law yet, but taxis parking in a rank outside people's homes on a residential estate causing problems but it isn't very considerate.

This afternoon was much better with the possibliity of a long striven for volunteer bureau for the area on the horizon.

I end up my day in Albert Park in the dusk negotiating with an African football team.  Just don't ask!!  At least Coucnillors don't get bored!

At our select committee meeting today we looked at results of surveys and focus groups on how the council communicates.  Also what Coucnillors thought of communications with them.  I thought I must have met every single person consulted as all of the comments, good and bad, rang true.  Also I was relieved that other councillors did agree with most of my concerns.  We get far too much information, and not enough that we actually need!  I look forward to the recommendations of hte committee.

I was disappointed that some things we had asked for years ago and were told were "in hand" are still being asked for.  A section on the website for young people was a particular example. 

People are upset that the "new" lift in the Castlegate Centre is not working, in addition to the one in the market hall not working.  I have established today that there is a lift normally used by management that is a bit further along the rooftop car park, towards the Swallow Hotel that can be used and comes down by Wilkinson's, next to the hotel.  Spare parts can no longer be obtained for the present one - only 10 years old - and a new one is about to be ordered.  All a very difficult situaution for privately owned shopping centres like this.  Less rent coming in, but they need to be able to keep customers.

Back to communicating.  Our 9 year old grandson has taught John how to text.  Hooray.

Great to celebrate, and this afternoon it was celebration of Fiona Hall's win in the European elections in June.  Keep up with her website if you want to see what she is up to.  Very enjoyable to be there, hear Fiona, hear how she is now the leader of our Lib Dem group in the European Parliament, and have her tell us that the North East had the best Lib Dem vote in the whole country.  Bodes well for the general election. 

It is always good to meet so many old friends at such occasions, but what a lot of new people I hadn't seen before too!  all of them considerably younger me ! 

Several things have happened today that all tie in together, as well as a lovely walk in Teesdale - where the water runs free, and something of that eternal flow, going where it needs to links with Liberty too.

I had a rare e-mail from a friend who was deported to Congo.  Life is very tough  for him and his family now.  What happened was unjust in the extreme, and yet he found it within himself to send a message where he says "I love you all".  Humbling isn't it.

I heard a snippet of "Any Answers" where a Government Minister< Jim Kinght I thnk, was saying after another MP had apologised for making a "mistake" in claiming for dog food on her expenses - people on beneifts are not allowed to make "mistakes" and just pay it back - they are hounded and prosecuted.  Hardly just.

Reading parts of "What Price Liberty" by Ben Wilson (reseach for my Brass Crosby book) is see the quote from John Russell.  I quote "...and when they see any one man borne down unjustly, they ought to perceive immediatly, that the cause of that man is the cause of the whole nation ... So, I trust, it may always be, when any individual, however humble, however odious or however diespicable, is pursued by illegal, or unjust methods."

Then an e-mail from a former Councillor about the problem caused by slight changes in drugs for epilepsy.  I was asked to sign the petition - please add you name too and pass it on.  It is about the rights and liberties of people who have this illness, and they don't deserve to suffer more than they have to.

The Citizens Advice service provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. It values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination.

secondly, sadly, the problems are not only still there but growing.  the service was set up to help citizens cope with the problems of the beginning of the war years in 1939, but problems have not diminished as the world "progresses".

The newsletter from Arthritis Care this morning highlit a campaign about people with long term conditions like arthritis not having to pay prescription charges.  If we are serious about tackling inequalities in heath then surely this is one way.  Have a look at the website and sign up please.

Only people with a very low income that are under pension age, and some others get them free, so someone who is on incapacity benefit has to pay.  It is cheaper to pay a yearly or quarterly charge for a season ticket for prescriptions but many people cannot save up for that.  There are other costs with being less mobile, but this would be clear and easy to administer.  I do wonder if the Government's commitment to "tackling inequalities is really all about bullying people into lifestyles they find difficult to adjust to, whereas some real tangible help like this would be a beginning to show they really did care.

A young woman and her baby that are here seeking asylum from Congo were arrested last week to be deported back.  She was given no time to pack, friends took a change of clothes for the baby.  Her partner, and father of the baby has permission to stay here for 5 years and is working in Leeds.  He has been taken into hospital ill with desperate worry about their deportation to such an unafe country.  Officials are not believing that her relationship with her partner is genuine.  However other officials have told her she does not have to take the baby back with her, she could leave him with her partner.  Talk about the judgement of Solomon she is expected to make.  Where is the justice, humanity or even common sense in this case ?

Meanwhile Blaise deported to Congo 5 weeks ago has not been able to be contacted, and another person is still in prison there from when he was deported 5 weeks ago.  I note that not one MP who is sanctioning these deportations is offering to go out there for themselves and see what is happening and how those returned are beign treated.

what a sorry tale.  Blaming everyone but themselves for the woes and chaos around them; inability to deal properly with demonstrations against them; secret committees to establish truths; obsession with their own rights and privlileges ?  what Sunday papers have I been reading ? none you will be pleased to know, I've been using my third day "off" doing more research into the life and times of BRASS_CROSBY.DOC (1771).  Some things don't change - or do they ?

note that the document linked is not up to date - other facts have come to light since.

since writing the above I have read Peter Kent Baguley's blog about how the BBC have told George Aligiah that he can no longer be the President of the Fairtrade foundation.  You can make your own minds up!!

I had a meeting with Tristar Homes who manage the Council housing stock.  They do it very well too, in general.  However we disagree with their launch of a "golden number" for tenants to use which is an 0844 number.  this is a "revenue sharing" number, so tenants making a phone call from a mobile phone (which many have as their only phone) or a phone box pay sometimes exorbitant amounts to make calls about essential repairs.  I hope we can make some progress on the point.

After leaving their offices I was in Elm Tree and met someone I hadn't seen for ages.  He was very upset that not only had he lost his job, but was having to pay a lot of money to contact the Job Centre on his mobile phone - and guess what - it is an 084 number.  Why should poorer people have to pay more to access important services ?  that is in addition to having to spend £4 to go into Stockton to sign on too.  It is enough to make me despair, never mind those who have to put up with the situation.  However it is up to me to continue to campaign against such injustice.

no, not claiming more - just more to write about.  i found with horror, not that I had claimed something I shouldn't, but that an error had happened "on the way to the printer, via the ether" and the last 2 lines of a Focus article on expenses had been chopped off and didn't make sense.  you can see the full article on our website.  Look for Focus 203.  And yes - all 203 Focus are paid for out of Lib Dem money - not the public purse!

Meanwhile John has been hard at work looking at the instructions given to Coucnillors and has found a list of 29 anomolies and these are being prepared to send in to Council Officers in the hope that they will be clarified.

A few days off as my sister and brother in law came to stay for a few days.  A real trip down memory lane as we went to a birthday celebration some cousins were holding at what has been the family home since my grandparents lived there.  I was quite shaken at the memories that came back to me when I went into the house, not having been for very many years.  A beautiful ride there over the moors and it was good to see a number of my cousins again.   We have a photo around 70 years old of my grandparents and their children, so we lined up for another photo in the same spot.  One for the family album.  As we spend so much time hard at work, it is good to have a chance to recall our roots.

The next day a chance to meet up with our family as well with another picnic near to the White Horse at the top of Sutton Bank.  Beautiful views of Yorkshire for many miles around, and lovely to be together.  Reminds me of what is precious.  A reminder too of how we live so near to so many lovely places as we drove back through the scenic lanes and moors.

The coast today, and Staithes beckoned.  I'd forgotten how attractive the place is, despite the steep hill.  The most delicious "Coble Cake" from the café overlooking the sea, and we had to smile as the waitress brought it and reminded us to "mind the seagulls" as they might be trying a bite too!

A way of recognising groups of people volunteering in the local community interested me, so I went to a meeting I was invited to at Durham hosted by the Lord Lieutenant and Cabinet Office.  The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service certainly sounds like something to encourage such groups.  It doesn't give that much needed cash, but an award winning group can use the logo on their literature, which is bound to help the funding applications, and also be a boost to the volunteers and workers who put so much into local projects.  Please do pass this information on to any groups you think are likely to be eligible to apply.

Did you know that asylum seekers have to sign on at a police station every couple of weeks ? and that those living in Middlesbrough have to get to Stockton to do so, not being allowed by the Border Agency to sign on at Middlesbrough Police Station. So we have people with little money (less than income support) having to either pay around £4.00 for bus fares or walk.  Those who get vouchers and no money - well can you buy a bus ticket at Asda ?  of course not.  They have to rely on someone donating the fare or walking.  Those with no support at all - the same.  A 3 mile walk each way in all weather, regardless of health, in school holidays with children.  Requests for a meeting with the Director of the Borders Agency had got nowhere.

So Citizens for Sanctuary had helped local people to organise a march from Middlesbrough to Stockton, and others were invited to join in the march in solidarity with those asylum seekers who have to do the walk regularly, with various people joining and leaving the walk as it went on.  We won't go into how I didn't quite meet up with them till the end, but I walked a fraction of the distance and my feet hurt still, my back hurt, my knees hurt.  That was once, I didn't have to do it or face arrest, and only a small part of the walk they do.

The highlight of the walk was a call from Jeremy Oppenheim, Director of the Borders Agency.  He was going to come to Tees Valley to meet a group to talk about the long distance to sign on.  Hooray !!!! people were jubilant,  they cheered and the long walk today was worth it.  The press had been interested and the necessary pressure put on.  Hooray!

We all gathered round the Police Station whilst a letter was delivered there (just in case that phone call was imagined) and chanted for the right for local people to sign on in local places.  A local police officer looked on, doing his job, and  maybe amazed at such a well behaved group of people making their point with dignity and passion.  Their spirit lifted.

Tea and cake had been provided at the Baptist Church next door, and listening to what people had to say they had appreciated other people walking alongside them, even though it was only once on a fine day - and there is not usually tea and cake.  It was a privilege to take part.

before all of this I had been to the Salvation Army Church for their annual flower fetival, and had been asked to open it.  Another real privelege. 

the flowers arangements were beautiful and imaginative, all based on favourite hymns.  Such a lot had gone into each arrangement and the more I looked the more detail I could see that reflected the theme.  Diffculit to have a favourite but I did like "Make me a channel of my peace", one of my favourite hymns.  I said at the opening, flowers could really lift the spirit.  These did, and I do hope that they do for visitors.

It is open Friday with a concert in the evening; Saturday, and on Sunday there is Songs of Praise at 5.15 p.m.  It reallly is worth going along

A packed 12 hour day ending up with the Council meeting.  All our group there spoke up asking questions - we are there to challenge!  I was disappointed in the planning committee only asking for "at least 10% of energy to be from renewable or low energy sources" for the prestigious large North Shore Development next to the river.  I knew Maureen, who is on the planning committee spoke up at the time, but nothing changed.  I pointed out that the development was one for the future, but there wouldn't be a future if we didn't all do what we could to tackle global warming.  The land is a brownfield site with wind, water, and air in plenty - and the sun can shine.  There is just no excuse in my mind for a development which has so many partnerships and people working together.  It isn't one big developer coming in and calling all the shots.

John spoke about the need for the Council to pay its invoices on time in this present economic time.  Julia asked searching questions about the non-use of the mobile skateboard park the Council has.  Maureen spoke on the Sustainable Communities Act and the need  to take some of the opportunities to decentralise power and one to look at is making local decisions about planning matters such as back garden developments.

The Disability Forum today was interesting.  People with a range of disabilities had come together to hear interesting and relevant talks and presentations on a number of matters ranging from Stockton Council events being accessible ("what can we do to get you along to the Haloween night and be scared like everyone else") to good advice for everyone, and especially vulnerable people when bogus builders knock on the door (Don't even let people in through the door - keep the chain on, and be firm you don't deal with doorstep sales).  Whilst I was chatting with some people before the start I surprised on lady who asked me why I was there.  She asked if I was one of them or come to talk to them.  She was taken aback when I told her I had come to listen!  well worth listening too from the numerous issues I picked up.

There are different ways of beating the economic crisis.  We hear tonight at the Bishopsgarth Association of Residents meeting that there are bogus builders going around and being "rather forceful" to vulnerable people.  The police are warning people as best they can, we are sending out an "e" newsletter, and of course residents are spreading the word.  However much someone wants to make a living it shouldn't be by intimidating people.

Also raised was the issue of not being able to get grants in an area like Bishopsgarth that is not classed as "deprived" but has a lot of people struggling to make ends meet.  Help towards getting "dusk to dawn" lights would be much appreciated if anyone knows of an organisation that might help.

Even worse though is the news that the economic crisis is having a very severe effect in poor countries.  Have a look at the website and the July 6^th entry, and lobby any influential politician you think might be able to act.

It is good to celebrate, and good to have something good to celebrate.  So a barbie tonight (no rain!) for local helpers to celebrate getting Fiona Hall back into the European Parliament, and Fiona dropped in to say "thank you" too. 

As part of our "sorting out" we have a number of items that we no longer want but have keeping as "they will come in for someone, sometime".  I've been introduced to Freecycle, managed to get registered (well, Julia helped me!) and done my first advert.  I am astounded that I've had loads of offers from people wanting most of what is advertised - within hours of posting!  Wherever you live in the world, there is a Freecycle near you!

A lovely week, we have a barbecue to raise funds for our Church and village hall and look what happens!  Not that is spoilt the delicious sausages.  It makes one think there should be a "rain tax" - well there is actually.

Northumbrian Water has started to charge "non-domestic" properties on the basis of the area for surface drainage rather.  This is having an awful effect on such as Churches (that use hardly any water) and Community Halls (that use little more).  Some organisations are campaigning about this, the massive petition to the 10 Downing Street not having worked.  A Church based group "Don't Drain Us campaign" is campaigning about this - have a look and do your bit.

The irony is that it is going to take more than a barbecue to raise the extra money needed to keep our Churches and Halls going.

I am angry as I find that Stockton Sixth Form College is not going to get the promised money for revamping it.  Work had already started on preparing the site earlier this year when sheer incompetence of the Learning and Skills Council meant that the work on 144 colleges in the country could not be done so all were put on hold.  After months of waiting they have now been told that only 13 colleges have got the go ahead, and we are not one of them.  This must be devastating news for the college principal, staff and everyone else who has worked on it.  It sounds as though the college will get back the £2 million it has already spent, but that does not pay for the loss of hope and vision for the future.  I want to know how much "dead money" has had to be paid out to all the colleges who had invested money on drawing up plans throughout the country.  It is a disgrace, and the minister in charge has a lot of explaining to do

A meeting about what next for our local park, followed by a talking a problem in the ward over with some key officers and the police highlighted one sad fact.  It is difficult enough to get finance to improve areas to make them pleasant, attractive and useable for local people.  Looking at how to protect improvements from people who abuse, defile and spoil such amenities can cost even more, and sometimes there is no cost that can cover it.

However we spend lots of money on educating our children, massive amount of thought and effort goes into it, and rightly so.  So how come that in their latter years as school and a few years afterwards some (and I emphasise some, just a few) can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage, make areas "no go" areas for normal law abiding people, and make some people's lives a misery.  There is something missing, a big something.  What proportion of what is spent on education is spent on youth services out of school - a fraction I suspect.  In the meantime, answers on the proverbial postcard please,

I'm going to write about what John did today instead.  An important planning meeting was being held to decide on whether to go ahead with wind turbines near to Hilton and Seamer.  It was a very difficult issue as he is very strongly committed to every opportunity for increasing the use of renewable energy.  We would have a wind turbine on our house if practical (it isn't we've checked) and not object if all our neighbours had one.  However in this case there was going to be substantial disruption to not only the lives of the villagers but the environment local to them.  I difficult balance, and he felt he had to vote against in this instance.  The decision was to go ahead, on the casting vote of the chair, so we only hope that more than proposed will be done to limit the problems.