Recent Focus Readers will have seen my article asking where the benefits are to be found from Project Genesis. The article was taken up and developed in The Journal on Thursday. You can see the link here: http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/03/27/call-for-probe-into-charity-61634-20678991/

I’ve been doing quite a lot of digging into this project, and accept that much has been done through it, but am still to be convinced that it has delivered, and more importantly will deliver, all it can for Consett.

I propose to publish a series of articles with my findings and questions on the project through this site. I would very much appreciate two things from you, the readers:

1. To provide me with anything you know about the Project, good, bad or indifferent. You can post a comment of email me direct.

2. To write to Mike Clark (Chief Executive of Derwentside Council), Alex Watson (Leader of Derwentside Council) and Denise Bennett (Chair of the Council audit committee) urging them to support my call for the audit committee to examine the project: what it has achieved, why the charitable trust has received so little money - and spent so little even of what it has received, and how the benefits are to be protected for Derwentside when Derwentside ceases to exist.

According to Alex Watson Project Genesis has delivered “hundreds of millions of pounds” to Consett. With that much money at stake some scrutiny of the books has to be in order!

This morning I attended a small meeting with two officers and two other councillors who had shown an interest in the issue of how Derwentside is to create more affordable housing.

Away from the show politics of the council chamber we had a positive debate and discussion which simply reflected the fact that we were three local people concerned that far too many people in this district are unable to get into suitable housing because they just can’t afford it.

In a month or two I believe we will be able to present a positive and imaginative policy approach which will make a real contribution towards solving the issue. We could have been defeatist about the fact that any policy devised by Derwentside has a short shelf life with the council’s demise due in March 2009. Instead we took the view that we needed to set down a marker for the new authority so that the expertise and knowledge developed in Derwentside is not simply lost.

 I left the meeting feeling positive about having been able to make a contribution, and about the motivation of the two fellow councillors who will be my party’s opponents in the forthcoming elections. That’s the way that local politics should be.

The good news for enthusiastic recyclers is that the new contractors for Derwentside’s blue bins, Greencyle, will take envelopes and books (It’s not yet clear whether this is only paperbacks - so play safe) from April 1st.

The bad news is that recycling rates across the district fell last quarter to just 25.57%, 20.33% being recyclates and 5.24% compost. That’s a very disappointing result, apparently arising from problems with the Thornley waste disposal site.

I’ve been out today delivering Focus leaflets (yes, I know it was snowing) and faced the usual problems which those of you who have never leafletted simply won’t realise.

A traditional heavy brass gravity flap like this one will be a joy to use, and probably has an elegant flap behind it that allows itself to be lifted smoothly by the Focus leaflet which then sails effortlessly into the hallway, headline up, to attract the homeowner’s attention.

This Spring loaded brute, however, will make every effort to gin-trap your hand, and will almost certainly have a leaflet-destroying brush on the other side to make sure that your Focus leaflet looks as though its been through a shredder. What’s worse is that there’s probaly a Rottweiler on the other side of the brush, so more fool you if you try to get the leaflet right through the brush.

If this all seems like rather mindless musings - there is  a point to it.

What I noticed in particular was the appallingly poor quality of letter box fitted to many new houses, and I invite residents of Derwent Garden Village, Ash Grove and The Steadings to let me know their views. My own award for most unhelpul letterboxes goes to Derwent Garden Village, but after less than a year the number of broken letterboxes on Ash Grove, and the poor mechanisms of those that still have flaps, suggests that they should win the worst letterbox award.

Can anyone tell me whether there a minimum standards for these things? Or are housebuilders allowed to charge us the earth whilst skimping wherever they can?

Click picture below to see the protesters: When local people heard that the end of their terrace on Medomsley Road was to be turned into an accountant’s office they were horrified. It would snarl up the parking and make getting out of their back street even more difficult. But what could they do? Wasn’t it all decided already?

They approached me as their Liberal Democrat councillor to help them organise their protest. Twenty six letters of complaint hit the council offices. At the planning committee, armed with their arguments, I put their case so forcefully that even though council officers had recommended the plan to go ahead the committee rejected it unanimously.

So far so good, but spirits sagged when the accountants hired a planning consultant to appeal the decision. Defeat loomed as residents read the professionally put together appeal. Could ordinary people really persuade the Inspector to back their protests against the so-called experts?

Working together with me again they showered the inspectorate with well argued letters explaining why he should reject the appeal.

On March 18th residents got the good news that they had won. It’s a small victory but a big political lesson. Teamwork and persistence pay. Liberal Democrats specialise in both.

This story should just be one of delight. The diabetic retinopathy screening clinic has been restored to Shotley Bridge Hospital.

What’s moderating my delight, though, is how this came to my attention.

Several months ago I was approached by the family of a frail elderly constituent. They just wanted to know why she couldn’t have her retinopathy screening done at Shotley but instead had to be transported to Durham. She didn’t like going out for any length of time, and as we all know the transport to Durham isn’t great if you don’t drive. I promised to find out.

After some toing and froing it transpired that there hadn’t been enough cameras, but now the PCT had bought some more and sited one at Shotley Bridge so the clinic was restored. I wrote to the family to let them know that whilst their mother’s previous discomfiture could not be undone, at least in future she would know that the screening could be done at Shotley Bridge again. The family thanked me for my efforts, but were sad to say that their mother had recently died.

It’s a sharp reminder that it isn’t enough to promise to do better in the future. We need to do better NOW. 

On Friday I went to a rather sparsely attended “stakeholder event” meeting of the County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT to those in the know) to discuss Urgent Care. That’s the kind of care we get when we need sudden help, whether it’s blue flashing lights and Accident and Emergency, or a trip with Mum in the car to the Out of Hours service.

I was somewhat reassured to be told that the Urgent Care provision at Shotley Bridge - The Minor Injuries Unit and the Out of Hours Service - should “look very much the same” when the strategy is finalised at a meeting between the Hospital Trust and the PCT.

I should get a copy of the final strategy document and will keep you informed.

I don’t know how many of Derwentside CCTV’s cameras are out of action at any one time. What’s more I don’t know if anyone else does either! That’s why I’ve written to ask if any statistics exist on the subject. I’m taking my role of data champion seriously as you can see.

The thought was prompted by somebody saying to me that they’s been told that half of the cameras didn’t have any film in. Now I know that statistic is wrong. None of them have any film in - they’re all digital!

On a more serious note, I was interested to read a BBC report tonight that showed that in Nottingham people said they didn’t feel any safer after CCTV cameras were installed. You can read the report at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7293928.stm

If you have strong feelings on the subject, why not leave a comment.

Brickbat: On “walkabout” with the Police last Friday I spotted this eyesore, and potential danger at the rear of Currys on Middle Street. The burnt out fridge was “fired” weeks ago, and some youths arrested, so its downright irresponsible that it is still there - alongside another potential target. I’ve contacted Currys to move the fridge and notify me. I’ll let you know when it happens.

Plaudit: The “artist” of this graffiti in Berry Edge had struck again, this time on the wall of Levys on Middle Street. I notified Derwentside District Council’s graffiti removal team on Monday and went to take a picture to show you the problem. It was gone. Well done the Derwentside Team who I find very responsive when asked. We’ll be doing well if the service is as good when Derwentside is abolished and we all have to rely on a council based in Durham.

And if you know anything about this graffiti please let me or the police know.

Nearly thirty years after I joined the party, I thought it was time to attend a party conference. Not before time!

I was actually a bit nervous. I’ve read about modern political conferences being choreographed for the TV cameras. I would have hated that. I’ve seen some where it looked as if dissent was was considered tantamount to treason. I should have had more faith in the Liberal Democrats. What I experienced was a relaxed but very committed conference of people intent on pulling in the same direction, and keen to share ideas.

I even found myself inspired. Not by the leader’s speech, excellent though it was. Not by policy, not by campaigning techniques, not by rhetoric. What inspired me was to be in Liverpool, and to feel the change that was taking place. To hear how that great city, brought to its knees in conflict between Mrs Thatcher and the Militant Tendency, was now being transformed commercially and culturally under Liberal Democrat leadership. To recognise how a local party that was almost down and out had earned the trust of its community, and in earning that trust had enabled a transformation of both itself and the city.

I couldn’t help thinking about the County Durham we live in, where so much has been laid waste by Thatcherite economics, and so much else undermined by Labour Party inertia. It desperately needs a party that earns its trust and enables a transformation. That’s the challenge that brought me back buzzing from the Spring Conference. That’s the challenge of this May’s election.

Tenants of Derwentside Homes are receiving the frightening news that their rents are to rise by 6.6% this April. Justifying the rises Derwentside Homes issued a staement saying “The Housing Corporation will assess Derwentside Homes to ensure that they comply with the guideline limit specified”.

That will be no comfort to hard-pressed tenants wondering how to make ends meet. I have notified the Press about this apalling situation and very much hope they will publish our condemnation.

Under the heading “Lib Dems slam Rent Rises” my statement reads, “Whichever way you look at it, this inflation-busting rent hike is an unbearable burden for households, many of whom have seen their wages pegged back below inflation. It confirms the worst fears of tenants who only a year ago were persuaded to sack their council landlords on the promise of a brighter future. At least when their homes were in the hands of the council they knew who to blame - and how to punish them.”

Derwentside District Council has been awarded Beacon status in the in the category “Reducing Health Inequalities”. Details of the different areas in which awards are given, and the successful councils, can be found at http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=14586 

This is a real tribute to the imagination and hard work of many Derwentside staff who have worked hand in hand with the Primary Care Trust and other partners doing everything from encouraging children to eat five fruit and veg portions a day to organising bike rides for the couch-bound, from helping people back into work after recovering from a range of illnesses to running Stop-Smoking clinics.

The big task now will be to make sure that these imaginative initiatives are carried through into the new unitary authority. Compared with Derwentside’s four beacon awards, the county has just one to its name at present. They’ve got some catching up to do. Obviously they need a change of councillors!

Tonight’s Crime Forum at the YMCA was a rather disheartening event. The opening statement was that crime in Consett had risen by 5% whereas in the wider area it had actually decreased by 8.5%.

These statistics were mirrored by the feelings of a number of people at the meeting who had obviously been disturbed by the spate of arson attacks on cars and wheelie bins which left them feeling nervous and threatened.

I quote the police report “Consett North - in particular the area surrounding the Police Station has seen a problem in damages, specifically two types of offences. There have been a number of arsons mainly wheelie bins but there have been one or two attacks on cars and allotment buildings. There has been a high profile operation with assistance from the Fire Service and a variety of tactics have been used but still information is thin on the ground”.

The truth is, there is no magic bullet to cure this problem - but it has to be cured. The only way is for all residents to be vigilant and to let the police know anything suspicious we see or hear. Intelligence and information painstakingly gathered and put together will eventually pinpoint the culprits - but the police cannot solve this situation on their own.

 The best news was that crimes of violence against the person had fallen 15.8% thanks to structured visits to licensed premises. Well done to the Police for that.

 You can see a full record of incidents below:

Regular readers of this blog may recognise each of these pictures.

The first is the footpath opposite Number One Club. A local resident reported it to be seriously littered and I contacted the streetscape team. They were out promptly, and a quick comparison with the earlier picture will show the difference they made.

The next is the railings outside the old TSB. This wasn’t an eyesore, but it was dangerous with the top rail hanging loose and splaying towards the road.

The County Council Highways Action Line not only took action but kept me informed of progress and were as good as their word. Now the railings are doing what they were designed to do - protecting pedestrians rather than threatening motorists.

And finally, here is the offending tip at the heart of our town where the team from the Environment Department of Derwentside District Council scaled the heights to remove the collection of bags that had been dumped up there.

Again, the team acted very quickly and kept me informed.

OK, so it’s not Paradise Regained, and none of this would have been necessary if all of the people in the area had behaved with consideration to their neighbours and their community. But what it does show is that if we stay alert and point our public servants in the right direction, they are wlling and able to help. My thanks to each of the teams who have helped us all in this way.

As your councillor, it certainly gives me some satisfaction to watch even these small improvements. I hope it does the same for you.