Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

A very interesting training session today on the work of Harbour, who work with and support people suffering from domestic violence.  Both men and women are helped, and support is given to children of families where there is domestic violence too.  This weblink gives more information.  Please do use or pass on to anyone who you think might be helped.

I actually felt sorry for Gordon Brown.  Enormous pressure on him to do his bit and "save" his party.  The cult of personality in politics is very unhealthy  and takes the focus on what really matters - what does the party either in Government, or wanting to be, actually stand for, what does it believe in, what are its polices and will they work to make the diference needed.  I am also disgusted at a newspaper backing or not backing a political party.  One of the reasons we are in such a mess is that newspapers are reluctant to print news and opinions of people, and manipulate it themsleves.

However if you think politics and media stink - it is nothing to the foul smell on Darlington Back Lane as I drove past today.  Thankfully, at last, the Council has sent in equipment to empty the overflowing septic tank.

Great news though - the planning inspector has dismissed the appeal on Bishopsgarth Cottages.  Brilliant - but I need to find out exactly what will happen next.

to end on an inane bit of news - only 3 socks don't have a match now, but the gloves still looking sad and lonely.

I start the day early with a meeting to resolve ongoing problems with the Council computer, and am assured that all will be wonderful when done.  I do wonder, but we are expected to do so much of our work by "e" now having something not working properly seriously affects the time it all takes.

Better news was that the infamous "rain tax" that community centres and halls were going to have to pay is now not going to happen.  I will see what atually happens though!

on the domestic front I am emptying drawers before new one's are installed, and I have an array of over 60 odd socks etc and 7 gloves. 

I read in the Church Times the follow up of the story last week of how asylum seeker Elizabeth was snatched from the vicarage in Darlington where she was sheltering with her 2 small children.  It was 7.15 in the morning, they threatened her in front of her children to handcuff her as she could not think what clothes to put on (could you have ?).  A child was hysterical.  The Borders Agency, there were 8 of them, insisted on searching all 7 rooms in the vicarage, as they had a warrant.  Elizabeth was taken off in one van whilst her terrified children were bundled into a separate vehicle. 

This week's account tells how all of this was witnessed by 3 vicars who have provided written evidence.  Will Government now listen to what barbaric ways their officials are doing their work ?  will they continue to think it is just a few paranoid individuals who are making the complaints ?  Thankfully the Children's Commission for England, Professor Aynsley-Green has called for an investigation for what is not a one off occasion, but is happening all the time in our so called domcratic and civilised country.  If the officials behave like that in front of clergy in a vicarage, what is it like where there is nobody to witness ?

I have now been able to access the Council minutes for the other week and the figures for how much rent money from Stockton tenants has been sent back to Government is needing to be updated.   I said £88 million in 9 years.  i was so astounded to hear this I missed the next sentence (thank you Council minute takers!).  It is estimated that it was £177 million over 20 years.  Mind boggling isn't it.

The Grand Committee for the Northern Region was meeting in Middlesbrough.  There is much that this meeting was not, such as any miniscule way of being a substititute for real regional government.  It is wholly unrepresentatiive politically, didn't make decisions, and there was no chance to contribute.  However our regional MPs were there for us to see in "action" if that is the right adjective to use.  They had 45 minutes of question time, asking Nick Brown, Minister for the NE questions, and interestingly were not just allowed supplementary questions but other MPs could have them on the same question too.  Each question and answer was short so time for a fair bit of debate, and a model we could follow in Stockton.

In the debate that followed Alan Beith MP (the only opposition member present!) pointed out that it was hadly represntative as there were 27 Labour MPs (half of which were there), one Tory (not there) and himself as the Lib Dem.  The chamber was packed with media and public, and I wonder what they thought of it.  I would go again and travel to do so, but it needs to change to be more meaningful.  When we have PR it will be more representative too!

I had to leave before the end to be home ready for a new innovation - telephone confernecing.  I am a member of the Local Government Association Selector Panel for the Sustainable Communities Act and been to several meetings at Local Government House in London.  This was a first for the Association to have a confernece by phone.  It worked really well and saved lots and lots of time and energy.  I hope that more will be done that way, and a good way of home linking to centres of power and influence in London.

Out of the world of ideas and hopes for the future back to problems of today and not having the political clout to deal with.  At a partnership meeting I hear with dismay that the "worklessness" fund to help people back into work is going to be for a very very tightly defined group of people.  You have to be 18 - 25 unless in a hotspot area of unemployment which is understandable, but must have been on Job Seekers Allowance for between 10 months and 51 weeks.  Wow, if that is you, but either side of those dates - tough!  makes me wonder, cynic that I am, if it is all about manipulating figures for stats so the Govenment can say it has achieved something wonderful - watch this space in a few months time !

All action today, starting with getting up very early (a news item in itself for me, especially after a late night at the Glee Club) so I could pack and get to the Conference Centre to do an interview for BBC Radio Tees on 084 numbers I was speaking on later that morning.

Then after “Youth Unemployment” it was an emergency debate on Housing, and how let down we are by social housing not being kept up to standard and new housing built where so much needed.  I had a card in to speak and a speech ready, but still nervous when they read out “Suzanne Fletcher stand by” for me to go and speak.  I made the point that I did on the blog on Wednesday 9^th September that if the Government did not keep taking money out of what was paid by tenants rents, quoting the £88 million from Stockton tenants over the last 9 years.  This would have paid for many many repairs and renewals and we would not be having to go down the route of “stock transfer” transferring our housing to Tristar if we could keep the rent money and have a level playing field.  It had cost £400,000 to do the consultation on this.  Some of my political opponents, or even council officers may think I asked the question at Council to get these figures so I could reveal them at conference – honest I didn’t, it was an emergency motion not known about when I asked!

Next bit of nerve needed for the debate on “Are we being served”.  An excellent document and proposal based on giving consumers of both public and private services many more rights.  It also proposed free phone calls to public services, and whilst that sounds wonderful I really didn’t think it realistic in the present state of the economy.  So I spoke against part of the motion (note – not against the leadership!) saying we needed to campaign as a party right now on abolishing the use of the 084 numbers for services for those in need such as the NHS, Job Centre Plus, Department of Works and Pensions, HMRC and others, replacing it with an 034 number that will cost no more than a local call whether ringing from a landline, mobile phone or payphone.  The rip off has to stop.

Nick Clegg’s speech ? well we had to leave to get home this side of midnight, and like you, can read it on line.

So that is the end of some very long blog entries, written post conference (no facility or even time there) giving the Suzanne view of what happened.  There is lots not written about, I wasn’t able to hear everything, but nothing has been left out about any dissention, upset or rows I was aware of.  I don’t know where the media were but I was part of a wonderful bunch of people who were listening, learning, joining in, networking and like me, enjoying conference, looking forward to fighting in a general election to make a “fresh start” for Britain.

The sombre subject of Afghanistan started us off.  Nobody pretends to have any slick answers and there was huge concern over the loss of lives there.  However the solution is not a military one, it needs to be economic, political and social, and economic initiatives are needed to stop the growth of poppies feeding the drug barons.

Rail franchises were next, and we heard that our rail fares are the highest in the world, with the “Ryanair” approach, and fares being arbitrary, not uniform, and not transparent.  The rail regulator will not intervene and only London is there democratic accountability, and it should be an example to follow.  Given the huge range of fares paid and offered to come to Bournemouth from the North East I agree entirely.

“A Fresh Start for Britain : Choosing a better future” was the key debate of the day.  It appears to have been prophesised by the media as being the battleground of conference with Nick Clegg versus the rest of us.  Sitting where I was, listening to the whole debate it was a whole set of values and ideas for the future.  Some speakers made it clear that they did not agree with some of the ideas put forward by the leadership, and had strong and firm commitments to our values.  Brilliant.  What is the fuss about ?  I was going to try to speak on the importance of activities and support for young people outside school hours, but there was an amendment put by Simon Hughes that said it all so much more elegantly than I could – and nobody disagreed, but that doesn’t fill newspaper columns does it ?

Evan Harris made it clear that although cuts would need to be made, they would be made as a last resort with care and concern.  Others needed to stop attacking public services and servants who were working hard and not rule out increasing overall tax revenue.  A few gems from Matthew Oakeshott telling us we needed more of “yes we can” rather pessimism and pointing out that we were one of the most unequal and are the least socially mobile in the western democratic world, and that the happiest states and the most equal.  I was glad the “happy” word had been used, that is, after all, what we are aiming for, economically balanced is only part of the journey there.  Steve Webb on the same theme reminded us that “Without a vision we perish” and there was too much gloom around – people don’t want a hair shirt, not even a good quality one!  It was made clear that no decisions had been made about universal child benefit or tuition fees, but I think the message was strongly enough made that Lib Dem members expected them to stay.  We end on a positive message of Hope and Future, and a Sustainable future at that.

I spent lunch time not at fringe, but writing speeches for the next day, and even spent time collecting thoughts sitting at an outdoor café overlooking the sea in the sunshine.  Much of the afternoon was around sorting out tomorrow and arranging a radio interview, but caught much of the Child Protection debate.  Have a look at it and Chris Huhne’s speech.

Energy and climate change followed with a rousing, as always, speech from Simon Hughes.  He pointed out that the Government was in bed with the energy companie and only 1 in 100 homes were fully energy efficient – challenging us all to joing the 10:10 campaign.

My final fringe meeting was with the British Red Cross on an issue close to my heart – volunteering.  As usual at fringes it was good to have a perspective from some experts from outside the party, and we heard a lot about the value of volunteering not just to society but to the volunteer workers too who, it was said, were happier, enjoying life more, with a sense of achievement and it was often a step into another line of work, or even any work at all.  We were reminded that in a time of “tough choices” we need to remember that for every £1 invested, £4.6 comes back, and volunteering is not an optional add on but the engine of our society.

By now even I could not face another fringe meeting, or more precisely more grazing on another hotel buffet (as I said before I was longing for a Stockton Council Tees Cuisine buffet).  Maureen and I took time for a “proper” meal.

Not time for bed though – The Glee Club beckoned.  The last night of every conference we let our hair down and sing our hearts out on songs recounting our history, mocking ourselves outrageously, and parts of the country lustily singing their own songs, the Welsh in their own language of course.  I was up on stage with fellow Yorkshire tykes singing our own version of “On Ilkley Moor ….”.  Leaders past and present along with other MPs and our latest election winner Catherine Bearder, now MEP, entertain us with sketches and jokes.  My only complaint was that a sketch by one of the Liberator crew made me really hurt – I just laughed so much.  We end up, as always, singing a song true to my heart “The Land” with the chorus that is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago when Lloyd George’s People’s budget was rejected by the Lords.

“The land, the land, ‘twas God that made the land,

The land, the land, the ground on which we stand,

Why should we be beggars with the ballot in our hand ?

God made the land for the people!”

Breakfast meeting with a Social Housing provider in the south of England who were wanting to put forward some ideas on a new model to provide more affordable housing and running it past us first.  It was innovative, but I wasn’t happy with how it would work out in Stockton, too much depended on people remaining in jobs.  Still good to know there are good ideas out there that people are working on.

Tim Farron gave an excellent speech with interesting points about milk prices (thank goodness we don’t buy from the supermarket, even the co-op) and National Parks as well as some good Liberal philosophy. 2 sound bites I recall.  “we have never been more consulted and less listened to” and thinking of campaigning “ if everything is calm and under control, you aren’t going fast enough”.  A well deserved standing ovation.  Future leader, I wonder ?

Crime Policy was next with another round table discussion with questions from the members present.  Much of the debate was around prisons and it was clear listening to the experts that what was happening now was not working, not deterring people from crime and more crime, and we needed to concentrate on rehabilitation wherever possible and only have those that are a danger locked up for a long time.  As Chris Huhne said “we need to concentrate on what works, not what the Mail and Sun want to work”.  Also talked about was the need for controlled trials on giving heroin to the hard core where other treatment to bring them off it was not working, and they were leading lives of crime perpetuated by having to get extortionate sums to pay drug barons.

Vince Cable, as always, brilliant.  I won’t try to encapsulate his speech, you need to click the link and read it.

“Action for Children” was the lunch time fringe, organised by the Social Care Institute for Excellence.  Our leading MP on this is Annette Brooks and after all that has been said about protecting children from harm is was refreshing to hear someone so sensible, practical, and yet compassionate.  The main thrust was about the need to support our Social Workers, not only raising their morale, but giving them the training they needed, especially in working with other agencies and departments.  Working together seems to be the key.  Things have improved since the 1980’s and the Cleveland Child Abuse tragedy, when departments did not even listen to each other, but there is a long way to go.  We heard that there will be no “quick wins” and it will be a marathon not a sprint.  Sad, but likely to be true.  We could make points and I made 3.  our Social Services Director does not talk about “Baby P”, but Baby Peter as he was a little child who suffered a tragedy, not a nameless figure that went wrong.  I was pleased I said this as the panel talked about “Peter” after that.  I also asked that Government Departments did more joined up working and funding on the issue of child abuse, as it all affects many departments (all agreed!) and pointed out that when John was Mayor he had met with our local social workers in an attempt to give some civic recognition to the work they did.  I didn’t hear Annette’s speech next day but you can see it on this link

Back to the conference centre (lots of hills in Bournemouth!) for Sarah Teather’s speech.  I could hardly believe it but only 15 (yes fifteen) people in the whole country have been helped by the Government’s much heralded mortgage rescue scheme.  I do wonder just how much per person helped has been spent on publicity for the scheme.  As Sarah said, Labour need to look beyond the next general election and gimmicks, long terms solutions are needed to make a difference.

“Our Natural Heritage” came next – a big debate on the environment.  Brilliant policies for the environment – shining green!  It was interested to hear Cllr Wendy Taylor from Newcastle talk about how the Lib Dems there have greatly increased recycling, now up to 47%, 4 times the rate Labour was doing.  Also they have a waste minimisation group as part of the Local Strategic Partnership, which we haven’t got here.  And successful Give and Take days supported by the Council that we don’t have either.  Lots of work to do to save our natural environment though – and as someone said – it isn’t all motherhood and organic apple pie!

First fringe meeting of the evening was run by the BBC World Service about “bullets, ballots and blogs – is social media good for democracy”.  A stimulating debate including Ed Davey MP and someone from BBC Persia. The general consensus was that blogging and other social media was making a big difference in places like Iran, and South Korea where 70% of people had broadband was making a huge difference.  Although as Ed Davey said – the message has to be good whatever way it is transmitted!  Mark Twain was quoted – “ lies will have travelled round the world before truth gets its boots on”, and new technology means that is at least 50 times faster!

Two more meetings, both receptions though.  A good time to catch up with people at the Northern Region reception followed by the LGA one. 

I really don’t want to see another buffet though.

The debate on the future of devolution brought home how much we have missed out by not even beginning the process here in the North East, as we heard from our colleagues in Scotland and Wales.  A spirited speech by our Regional Chairman, Frank Hindle brought this home.  It saddens me that seeing such devolution here may not be in my lifetime, the missed opportunities are endless.

A session by Kingston Lib Dems followed on what they are doing now they are in control of the Council.  All good stuff, with an emphasis on what they are doing being open and fair, and maximising use of IT to communicate both ways with the public.  I was staggered to hear that they have doorstep recycling for 10 items and are planning for a 50% recycling rate.  They have a community payback scheme for cleaning up graffiti quickly and the longest walking bus in Europe for walking to school.  No reason why we cannot do all of these here in Stockton.  I was especially taken though by seeing Roger Hayes on stage – in a suit!  I first met him 27 years ago as a radical campaigning activist, and certainly not in a suit.  They were in opposition then (and how!) and encouraging to see what a difference they have made in Kingston.

After a training session on new rules for elections a fringe meeting hosted by the CAB on “getting through the worst”.  We had some stark facts about how badly the economic situation is affecting people.  Richard Kemp reminded us that many areas have not yet properly recovered from the Thatcher recession (as is the case on Teesside).  He angrily denounced the idea that the country is now “recovering”, it may be for the boys in the City, but not for those losing homes, jobs, and hope.  Thank goodness for the CAB!  Most Councils appear to have “Loan shark” reporting hotlines, but I haven’t been able to find one here yet.

I am down one hill and up another for a training session on Councillors and making best use of “e” technology.  Although I am doing quite a bit there are a lot more ideas for us to do.  Apparently 7% of Councillors websites are Lib Dem one’s, 2% Conservative and 1% Labour.

“Standing up for Civil Liberties” was the next debate.  I am a great supporter of David Howarth, and enjoyed the debate using language and ideas we just don’t get near to hearing locally.

A panel debate on “The Privacy Commission” with questions from conference goers followed.  We hear that living in our surveillance society we are the most watched country in the world.    There is a massive amount of intelligence being collected, but is it actually being used as it should and could to protect the innocent, and deal with guilty ?  Sarah Ludford MEP was concerned about the amount of information being collected about asylum seekers who were doing nothing wrong.  Who was using it, and for what ?  Simon Davies of Privacy International spoke strongly about how we must limit the collection of data in the first place and pointed out that what we laughed about in the 1970’s with “Yes Minsister” was now happening.  There was a general feeling that the large amounts spent on CCTV could be better spent on preventing and dealing with crime instead.  It was pointed out that Tories say they are against ID cards, jumping on our bandwagon – so why didn’t they vote against them in the first place ?  no answer to that one!

Time to party.  It was the celebration of CAB being 70 years old.  I’ve been involved with them for 35 years, and one of the first was in Stockton (old almshouses on Dovecot Street), in 1939, so I just had to go to the party.  Here I am with the cake that Nick Clegg called in to cut.

A fringe meeting with Shelter and Sarah Teather on the future of housing was packed and interesting, if worrying.  How do we provide the homes that are needed, and have been needed for a long time, in a recession ?  new ways such as Housing Bonds, and ways of making the private rented sector were discussed.  In the meantime there are lot more repossessions to come making the situation far worse for people.  I asked about local plans for people being encouraged and enabled to borrow money for essential repairs – and was told that it was grossly irresponsible and other ways must be found!

Not finished yet – Blog of the year awards in a rather lively, if noisy, session.

I know we have to subsist on a variety of buffets to fit everything in, but I was sick of the sight of most of what was on offer in the rather swish hotels – I longed for a Stockton Council Tees Cuisine buffet – more healthy too!

Lovely to be at conference again.  Lots of old friends and chance to make new one’s, and Lib Dems everywhere you look.  The sun is shining too, helping the good and buoyant mood.  First was a consultative session on “Localism”.  A much used word but what does it mean in practice, and how do we, as Lib Dems respond to it ?  Interesting format as we all got a chance to have our say on the 4 different aspects, and I look forward to the next steps the Party will make.  However I was the only person in the room of about 75 people that lived somewhere that the Council did not devolve any decision making at all to any size of local communities.  There is around £13,000 for our ward to be spent on environmental improvements, and we the councillors decide.  Julia and I decide after as much consultation as we can do with local people, but there is no structure to do so, and absolutely no other decision making at all – just “consultation”.  The Lib Dem group had fought for the Environmental Improvement budget – without that there would be nothing.

No time to breath before I am up the next hill to a session on Participatory budgeting”

A clumsy phrase for an exciting idea.  Not just an idea though, the presentation was by a Newcastle Councillor, and they are doing it just miles up the road from us, where they call it “U Decide”.  It has led to much better working and understand both sideways, between different partners and groups, and between the Council and the community.  They have £38,000 to spend per ward on activities, and the video clips we saw were really inspiring, showing how local people in the different areas were coming together to make the decisions. 

Conference proper opens and we have debates on “Real Women” and a session on campaigning on environmental issues with Simon Hughes.  Followed by welcome drinks and a chance to meet up with people, the Rally, with Nick Clegg and Play School’s Fluella Benjamin.  She was great and I’m delighted she is with us.  I didn’t agree with everything in Nick’s speech, but not did a lot of people sat around me, and what leaders say, doesn’t mean we do – they are “floating ideas” and why not, about time we had some more chances to talk about ideas before they are firmed up.

Time to finish ?  no chance.  The AGM of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors followed by a meeting with CPAG on poverty and the Credit Crunch.  It’s 10 p.m. and time for an outdoor supper – yes we are down south, and have I onlyl been here one day already!

Lovely to be at conference again.  Lots of old friends and chance to make new one’s, and Lib Dems everywhere you look.  The sun is shining too, helping the good and buoyant mood.  First was a consultative session on “Localism”.  A much used word but what does it mean in practice, and how do we, as Lib Dems respond to it ?  Interesting format as we all got a chance to have our say on the 4 different aspects, and I look forward to the next steps the Party will make.  However I was the only person in the room of about 75 people that lived somewhere that the Council did not devolve any decision making at all to any size of local communities.  There is around £13,000 for our ward to be spent on environmental improvements, and we the councillors decide.  Julia and I decide after as much consultation as we can do with local people, but there is no structure to do so, and absolutely no other decision making at all – just “consultation”.  The Lib Dem group had fought for the Environmental Improvement budget – without that there would be nothing.

No time to breath before I am up the next hill to a session on Participatory budgeting”

A clumsy phrase for an exciting idea.  Not just an idea though, the presentation was by a Newcastle Councillor, and they are doing it just miles up the road from us, where they call it “U Decide”.  It has led to much better working and understand both sideways, between different partners and groups, and between the Council and the community.  They have £38,000 to spend per ward on activities, and the video clips we saw were really inspiring, showing how local people in the different areas were coming together to make the decisions. 

Conference proper opens and we have debates on “Real Women” and a session on campaigning on environmental issues with Simon Hughes.  Followed by welcome drinks and a chance to meet up with people, the Rally, with Nick Clegg and Play School’s Fluella Benjamin.  She was great and I’m delighted she is with us.  I didn’t agree with everything in Nick’s speech, but not did a lot of people sat around me, and what leaders say, doesn’t mean we do – they are “floating ideas” and why not, about time we had some more chances to talk about ideas before they are firmed up.

Time to finish ?  no chance.  The AGM of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors followed by a meeting with CPAG on poverty and the Credit Crunch.  It’s 10 p.m. and time for an outdoor supper – yes we are down south, and have I onlyl been here one day already!

A smooth journey down to Bournemouth for Party Conference in one sense, but the improvement needed is space for luggage.  It is such a pity that you can have a nice, clean, and comfortable train, but nowhere to put luggage.  Although getting a seat does depend on being able to pre-book.  But luggage is crowding out the corridors, causing problems in the aisles and dangerously hanging off the edge of the racks above seats.  I would say make the trains with lots of luggage space needed big enough for this, rather than try to cut minutes off the journey time.

We have retained our status of a Fairtrade Borough in Stockton.  Brilliant news.  Read all about it on Maureen Rigg's blog.

Some items in the news relevant to yesterday's story about the problems of housing and energy efficiency.

1. an insert in today's Guardian showing how Government money is spent.  Amongst other things showing how there is a tiny dot for housing expenditure (£7.3 billion) compared with, for instance, Fianncial stability and the £85.5 billion paid out to rescue the banks.  Says it all really.

2. An item in Local Government First saying that energy companies are trying to clamp down on plans to install in-house smart meters that will help people to monitor their energy use and make savings.

the big and powerful win, and the poor, cold and powerless lose.

Six meetings today, but I'll just write about the housing condition survey results for Stockton now.  Quite horrifying how bad things are, especially in the private rented sector and amongst poorer people.  10,700 homes that do not meet what is called the "decent homes standard", many of these were occupied by what are classed as "vulnerable households".  The cost of dealing with all of the issues leading to "non decency" isn't actually that much - an average cost per house of just short of £4,000, but it is not likely that the money is going to appear very easily, and the overall amount needed to bring homes up to standard goes up to £10,400 per dwelling.  I do worry that getting people to take out loans to pay for essential repairs is one of the main ways forward suggested, and I am sure it will cause multiple problems.

It gets worse though.  Over 15,000 homes are in fuel poverty.  I asked how could that happen when Warmzone had done a door to door survey some years ago offering measures to combat fuel poverty ?  the answer was that fuel prices had shot up, as indeed they have.  In short a lot of people in our local area are going to be cold this winter.  Urgent attention is needed to tackle ways of keeping heat in (that create jobs too!), use heat more efficiently (such as replacing old inefficient boilers) and keep energy prices down. 

There is a lot of hot air generated in Westminster - let's think how to harness it!

At a meeting today it was mooted that councillors question time should be dealt with severely !  Axed, reduced - or sent to the end of the agenda so bored councillors could go home and watch the football!!  We will await developments, but just what do some people think back bench councillors are supposed to do ? (no rude answers please!)

meantime the NHS has made an announcement about the use of 084 numbers.  See our website for Julia Cherrett's comment and see David Hickson's comment on the BBC website

Tees Valley Youth Choir were performing tonight, it being the leavers concert.   I wasn't surprised to hear that 10% of the National Youth Choir were from the Tees Valley Youth Choir.  What a treat it was too as they performed a very beautiful rendition of "Eternal Light" by Howard Goodall, and Requiem Op 9 by Maurice Durufle.  All the leavers were called up and presented with a gift and I was thrilled that the winner of the "Mayor's prize" that I donated after I was Mayor was Thomas Neal.  A very talented young man that we will not have heard the last of, I am very sure.  I heard that his mother had won the Grangefield Grammar School prize for music that the Mayor's prize buiilds on 30 years ago!  what a family.

It is sad that we do not read of such lovely events in the local press where so many young people give up their time to perform with such enthusiasm, joy and talent.  Surely a small area like Tees Valley supplying 10% of the National Youth Orchestra should be sung from the rooftops too ?

Not very far from here I was able to go to a place that is very special that I have not been to or even known about before.  A conservation site where children from many backgrounds can go and play, learn about their environment and nature, and, most important, be themselves.  Children with emotional behaviour disorders, many types of special needs are amongst those that benefit from this place.  It has an enthusiastic and very dedicated worker as well as numerous volunteers to make it all happen and that includes help from prisoners near to their release date.  Beautiful chain saw carvings like this, and just the ability for children to be free from whatever their handicap is.  Well done local helpers.  I have to keep the location under wraps as it is important those children can continue to be themselves.

(late posting this due to computer doing unprintable things!)

I don’t know what league it puts Stockton in but for several days Councillors of other parties have been complaining that our group had a lot of questions down to be answered and didn’t we know it was a big football match!  Actually we didn’t know, but even if we had that is not the point – we are elected to campaign, question and stand up for our constituents. 

Maureen Rigg has written about the meeting on her blog too, but we had questions on housing finance (yesterdays blog and now on the website); lack of leisure facilites for young people, especially skateboarding and BMX bikes; problems (again!) of buses during the Riverside Festival; Information for people with a disability at the same Festival; prompt payment of bills by the council to help businesses.

None of international importance but all part of the issues that local people are talking to us about. 

However at the end of the meeting, when goals had already been scored we did have an issue of international importance.  A motion on stopping deportations of people back to the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Readers here know my strong views on this and how some living in the Stockton area have been deported back to DRC against their will, sometimes with tragic consequences.  Even if not tortured or killed, it is a terrible life for a returned asylum seeker, the authorities being angry that they fled and told their story to others.  I said, and strongly believe, that the MPs that make the ultimate decision to deport someone to a country known to be unsafe like DRC should actually go there themselves with a list of those returned over the last few years and ask to meet them – then they will find out what is really happened, or more likely find they are not able to be traced.

It would be a more challenging trip than that football match.

This is not an exaggerated headline, it is the amount of money paid back to the Government from our COUNCIL TENANT'S RENT over the last 9 years.  Money has been going back like this since 1989 and the whole amount is not known yet.  The information is a result of a question I asked at Council tonight, and I ask just think how many improvements to our tenants homes could we have with that £88 million ?  how many doors, windows and all of the other improvements that our tenants needed could have been provided ?

lots more about the Council meeting - but I'm very tired after a long day and will write tomorrow when no Council duties !

I rang Halfords today to ask about hiring one, but was told that it was not thier policy to do so for what sounded like good reasons.  So what now.  Any ideas?  there must be some way of safely transporting visiting children.

I went to a presentation about safer driving by the fire service - the people who have to sort out the wreckage after a road accident.  Pretty gruesome but the fact that I have retained is that if you attention wanders for just 2 seconds and you are travelling at 30 mph the car will have travelled 88 feet.  Makes you think doesn't it.

Another bit of food for thought.  We were told about the very obvious fact that children of varying ages need the correct car safety seat.  Yet it appears there is no provision for anyone being able to borrow or hire a car seat if wanting to take a child not normally withyou in the car.  I had already asked the Council road safety department and there is nothing there.  Any thoughts ?

After yesterdays young people, today was another bunch of wonderful young people - Tees Valley Youth Orchestra.  They played with entusiasm and skill and we really enjoyed the evening.  It was the leavers concert and each one of those leaving (all for University) had something about their achievements and plans read out before being presented with a gift.  What stars.  I would put money on there being a word in our local media about these young people though.

When I finished being Mayor I started a fund for a prize for both the orchestra and choir for young people who had contributed to it, so it was good to see the present Mayor hand that over to the young people too.

3,000 young people celebrating 100 years of girl guiding – it has to be good doesn’t it.  I was at Ormesby Hall where the National Trust had allowed the party to take place, and in return brownies were planting a nice sized oak tree to be appreciated by future generations.  It brought back memories of the 50^th anniversary camp that I had attended at Bretton Hall (Yorkshire), and I had even found by badge and polished it up.  The brownies were quite taken aback when I told them, and even more so when I told them about how we camped in those days – no mattresses and I don’t think they believed me when I said we cooked on an open fire.  Anyone else reading this at Bretton Park 50 years ago ?

But 3,000 girls and lots of the helpers who give their time voluntarily to make sure the girls of today have the chance to not only have a great time, but build their confidence and gain skills for the rest of their lives.  We should be singing from the roof tops about it, but I didn’t see any local media reporting the event.  I only hope they were and Monday’s local papers are not full of the misdeeds of some.

I also enjoyed the parade of uniforms past, starting in 1909.  I was disappointed there was nothing from the 1950’s – I guess we fit between the 40’s and 60’s.  How much more practical today’s “guide wear” is.  However does anyone remember how we tied our scarves in the 50’s ?  I don’t think we had a toggle, and I’m sure I couldn’t have had a casual knot.

how are they connected ? well I was just finishing off shopping in Sanibury's when I got a blackberry message from home saying someone just round the corner from where I was had rung very distressed about a drain problem.   We could all do without thinking about drains when shopping, but what else are Councillors for ?  the couple I went to see were well impressed I had turned up so quickly.  Sadly little could be done at that time on a Friday evening, but I could listen, look and am all ready to go if advice given has not worked by Monday morning.  It does make me quite cross that NW refuses to take responsibliity for problems in drains that are clearly theirs.  We all (well most of us) know it is the householders responsiblity within their boundaries, but mains sewers, no.  The sooner new arrangements for dealing with NW drain problems the better.

It all comes down to how are they connected (groan)

Stockton Council is in the process of deciding whether to ballot tenants of Council owned houses run by Tristar homes on the option of Tristar owning the homes.  A simple summary of a hugely complicated issue.  What is annoying is the fact that going down the route of transferring all our Council stock is the only way to get investment into housing.  For around 15 years a growing proportion of Council house rents have gone back to Government for them to spend in other areas - it was £10 million one year recently.  It will be at least £100 million over the years - I call it daylight robbery, don't you ?

The Teesside Development Corporation (TDC) set up by the last Tory Government should be hanging its head in shame if not abolished.  I went round the Teesdale estate today with John for a job been waiting to be done for ages, plotting on a map where dropped kerbs were needed.  I found out how bad it was at the end of the mayor's walk last year when in a mobility scooter and not able to get round some of the roads at all.  Added to that the masses of cars parked all over the pavements as not enough car parking places were put in.  There was the vain hope that more people would use public transport if there were not enough.  Fine - but where was the support for public transport - whoops, the last Tory Government privatised the buses and didn't put anything to make it better.

Planning - huh!  Some of us have long memories !

The Teesside Development Corporation (TDC) set up by the last Tory Government should be hanging its head in shame if not abolished.  I went round the Teesdale estate today with John for a job been waiting to be done for ages, plotting on a map where dropped kerbs were needed.  I found out how bad it was at the end of the mayor's walk last year when in a mobility scooter and not able to get round some of the roads at all.  Added to that the masses of cars parked all over the pavements as not enough car parking places were put in.  There was the vain hope that more people would use public transport if there were not enough.  Fine - but where was the support for public transport - whoops, the last Tory Government privatised the buses and didn't put anything to make it better.

Planning - huh!  Some of us have long memories !