GREAT STRIDES MADE - IN SPITE OF SNIPING AND BACK-STABBING
IN last week's letters page, Muriel Green claimed that an earlier letter from Rita Stringfellow, in which she had thanked NHS and council staff for their work, had been followed by "a totally uncalled for diatribe of abuse from members of the local right wing Tory party".
I do hope that Councillor Green made a genuine mistake in making this claim, perhaps as a result of her not having read the News Guardian of January 16 properly, and that she was not deliberately trying to misrepresent the letter writers in question and mislead the readers of the letters page.
I'm sure she wouldn't stoop to such low tactics to score political points.
Obviously I can't speak for the other correspondents, but I can assure Coun Green that the letter I wrote was not in response to Rita Stringfellow's letter of January 16, but was in fact prompted by the article on page three of that week's Guardian, in which she made the ludicrous claim that the current financial troubles being experienced by North Tyneside Council were all the fault of the newly elected Mayor.
I can also reassure Coun Cruikshanks, who thinks that Mayor Morgan "whipped in his Tory party cronies to back him up" by writing to the Guardian, that was most definitely not the case.
Rita Stringfellow's arrogant and hypocritical comments concerning the financial chaos in North Tyneside clearly stirred up strong feelings generally and prompted several people to write in to the paper of their own volition.
I have since spoken to a number of people who were both angered and amazed by her attitude.
Coun Cruikshanks is absolutely right to point out that Coun Stringfellow should have accepted the responsibility for the financial chaos she and her colleagues caused.
And he should be commended for being, I believe, the first and the only Labour councillor to publicly admit that his leader was indeed to blame for the crisis facing North Tyneside.
Mr Burdis stated in his letter that a Conservative mayor and two former Conservative candidates cannot use the letters page to join the debate about public services.
It seems to have escaped his notice that we are still (just about) living in a democracy and that anyone of us is entitled to write to the News Guardian whenever we feel motivated to do so and hope that the editor will publish the letters.
Labour supporters really must accept that they have no right to dictate who can write to a newspaper (Rita Stringfellow, Muriel Green and assorted Labour councillors and supporters) and who can't (Chris Morgan, any members of the Conservative party and anyone else with the temerity to criticise or disagree with Labour).
Mr Burdis also seems to suggest that only Labour authorities are entitled to complain about a totally inadequate grant settlement from the Government (as, indeed, they have been doing quite vociferously), and that because Chris Morgan controls a Conservative administration, he cannot make the same complaint.
Mr Burdis seems to miss the point that, this year, Chris Morgan, like the leaders of Labour authorities, is equally at the mercy of the Labour Government as regards a funding settlement which is far too low to cover the huge cost increases imposed by Gordon Brown.
At the last full council meeting, several Labour councillors broke ranks and voted along with the Conservatives, agreeing that this year's funding from their own Government was completely inadequate.
There may well have been "a proper debate within the Labour party about the level of investment needed", but it appears the Government weren't actually prepared to take any notice of it.
Chris Morgan's manifesto pledge was to bring council tax down to the national average when resources allow. This can only be done through greater efficiency, common sense and prudence being applied to the running of the council.
In only nine months, great strides have been made towards putting the council's finances back on a sound footing, and, in spite of the constant sniping and back-stabbing from the Labour group, many more improvements can and will be made to North Tyneside's services and environment.
ALISON AUSTIN
CRITICS SHOULD STATE THE TRUTHS
YET again we are treated to a verbal attack from Muriel Green, (Letters January 30). Whilst everyone is entitled to their own opinion, Mrs Green presents hers as undeniable truths, which they most certainly are not.
In trying to deflect attention from Labour's financial mismanagement of our council's affairs, she either ignores the facts or distorts them.
However, in recent weeks, we have received detailed independent evidence of the depth of Labour's incompetence, evidence which should not be ignored when making a judgement as to who is responsible for the council's financial plight and the predicted nine per cent increase in council tax.
The recently published comprehensive performance assessment of the council, carried out by the independent Audit Commission, rated North Tyneside as "poor" and one of the 13 worst performing council's in the country.
The assessment carried out shortly after last years mayoral election found the council was in a critical state and faces a great challenge to restore financial stability. They also confirmed the council needed to make savings of some £7m this year if it was to balance the books.
This confirmed once and for all the depth of the financial crisis Chris Morgan inherited.
Another legacy inherited from Labour was the need to restore the council's reserves of cash, all of which was spent, shoring up Labour's multi-million pound budget overspends - overspending which has occurred in each of the past four financial years.
Critics note: the last Conservative Government is not to blame for this ineptitude.
Unfortunately, such was the level of overspending that the council is left with no reserves of cash or any contingency funds for emergencies, which is why external auditors have required the council to set £6.4m aside as part of this years budget process to help restore balances to prudent level.
This is equivalent to a nine per cent increase in council tax.
As I said, everyone is entitled to their opinion and it is my opinion that Labour Coun Tom Cruikshanks was right to say Rita Stringfellow should have accepted responsibility for the council's mismanagement and resigned when she was leader of the council. And in future she should remain silent and stop criticising Chris Morgan's handling of the budget.
Sadly I don't think she will do either but that's only my opinion.
COUN MICHAEL MCINTYRE
Whitley Bay Ward
EXPLANATION GIVES MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
MAYOR Chris Morgan’s explanation for a massive nine per cent increase in council tax next year asks more questions than it answers.
The Conservatives say £6.2m will be put into reserves and contingencies - equal to the whole of the nine per cent increase in council tax.
Will the Mayor now guarantee that this is not to fund future tax cuts or pet Tory projects?
The Conservatives complain about the increase in National Insurance, which will fund investment in the NHS. Can the Mayor confirm that he has known about this since last spring and that the settlement from Government includes money to pay for this?
The Mayor says that he wants to spend money on road repairs and street lights. Can he confirm that the settlement from Government includes money for roads and that the previous administration had already signed up to Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to improve street lighting?
Can the Mayor also confirm that North Tyneside is a member of the Association of North East Councils, whose chairman welcomed the above inflation increase averaging six per cent for authorities in the region?
Can Chris Morgan tell us in which of the 18 years of Conservative Government, North Tyneside got a settlement from central government equal to or bigger than this year's settlement?
Finally will the Mayor now admit that a nine per cent council tax hike is needed because, despite his talk, he has failed to take the tough action needed?
No wonder most people do not see any improvement being made.
LEISEL MORTIMER
Springfield
North Shields
MP ALREADY KNOWS ANSWERS
I READ with interest the article in the News Guardian, January 23, where Alan Campbell is "demanding" answers from the Mayor re: increase of council tax.
I believe our MP already knows all of the answers. If not, what is he doing with the time in Parliament.
Does he not ask why do we not get a fair share of the Government support, ie £8.5M?
Why does his Government impose a high council rent rise on our local authority then claw back more than the total rent rise?
Why is North Tyneside's social service grant five time less than some London councils then his Government charge us £100 per day if we cannot immediately provide a nursing home place (bed blocking)?
Incidentally, bed blocking has been reduced from 80 to zero in the short time the mayor and his cabinet has been in control.
Mr Campbell says: "Yet again it's the council tax payer who picks up the bill, correct, but this time we can see why. We are paying for the deficit left by the previous administration, £7m of overspends, which the mayor and cabinet has just about cleared.
We will also have to pick up the bill to replace the reserves that Rita Stringfellow and company spent prior to their removal from power. These reserves are a legal requirement.
I am sure that Mr Campbell is well aware that if the mayor and cabinet had not worked so hard to reverse the overspend, overcoming every disrupting obstacle that the Labour councillors have put in their way, we could have had Government officers imposed on us to run the business of North Tyneside.
Why can Mr Campbell not give credit to the mayor for "a job well started" - and we are only eight months into his term.
The mayor and his cabinet are giving us faith in the future. Mr Campbell is well advised to read pages six, eight and nine of the same edition of your newspaper for more comments.
J RUTHERFORD
Walton Avenue
North Shields
WHY CAN’T LIBRARY GO ON TOP OF MALL?
AT the recent Whitley Bay Regeneration Group meeting some residents and business representatives seemed keen to see the library relocated and built on top of the proposed new shopping centre in the middle of the town.
This sounds a sensible idea, but the mayor has already ruled that out. Where has it been considered as an option and why is he opposed to it?
In the past, Tory councillors and their supporters opposed the building of the very successful Marden Bridge Sports Centre and ridiculed the council's popular new website, which depicted Whitley Bay as Newcastle's coastline, linking it with the Capital of Culture bid.
Two years ago, they guffawed when the council advertised for developers for the Spanish City site in European journals and, at budget time last year, attempted to stop Labour councillors from putting extra money into the Playhouse to ensure it stays viable until a replacement is built.
There seems a reasonable chance that this latest shopping development will happen.
Modus has the advantage of only having to modify one of the previously agreed planning applications, and there is no demolition needed, so a lot of the preliminary work has been done.
This company has built up experience over the past few years of developing smaller shopping sites in other similar-sized towns, where the Labour Government has encouraged regeneration.
Add to this a fall in unemployment in the borough and a more stable economy and good quality businesses should have more confidence to join the existing first class shops and businesses that have remained loyal to Whitley Bay.
For years Tory councillors, and now the Tory mayor, have agitated Whitley Bay people and done the image of the town no favours with their negative approach to council services, including schools.
Why can't a new library be considered? Also what is happening to the Playhouse lottery bid? Is that going to be lost by the Tory ditherings and spoiling tactics in the same way as the £5m Sports Council funding for new leisure facilities in Wallsend and Killingworth was jettisoned?
ANNE TELFORD
Whitley Bay
HOME SHORES SUFFERING FOR FOREIGN SOIL
ONCE again the ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ is off to Camp David to play a tune to his Master Bushy with a definite wagging of tails on arrival, while us lessor mortals continue to suffer.
We have heard that there is to be a call up of reservists and letters will be arriving through their doors within the next few days. The only letters we will receive will say our appointments with the NHS have been cancelled, as most of the call up is for medical staff.
There is a catalogue of major priorities at home which need a cash influx. Last week we were told modernisation of the east coast railway between London and Scotland will not take place. The west coast line between Euston and Glasgow suffers a similar fate.
The programme on flood defences is a laughing stock, except for the people having their homes ruined year after year.
Grand Britannia coastal areas are falling into the sea and so on. The answer: crying wolf, no money.
But there must still be a pot of gold some where?
We have just spent a billion pounds on the Afghanistan operation and getting ready for an Iraq debacle. We will have wait to see what the overall cost will be.
And so the music goes, albeit on a cracked record. And finally £9.2bn on new aircraft carriers.
A R RENTON
Whitley Bay
LOCAL CARE NEEDED IN BOROUGH
WHEN election time comes around we have councillors knocking on our doors begging us to entrust our council tax and the well being of the borough into their hands.
Yet when we get a moderate snowfall, perhaps once a year, North Tyneside Council lets us down badly.
It only had 12 months to get ready the salt and prepare the vehicles to grit and plough the roads.
This year even the weather forecast was generous and gave them four days notice of last week's snowfall. Yet on Wednesday night and through most of Thursday there was little evidence of gritting or ploughing.
Surely the council has some duty to keep certain roads accessible for emergency vehicles, but on Thursday evening there was little chance of ambulances ever reaching Rake Lane or fire engines getting out of Preston Grange.
Well done, the council has proved once again how hopeless it can be.
Let's get some local people onto the council who care about this area.
G A REID
Wansbeck Avenue
Cullercoats
CAR DRIVER MUST LIVE WITHOUT A CONSCIENCE
MY wife and I visited Tynemouth Station market on Sunday, February 2, at about 1.40pm, parking our pristine condition, Mitsubishi Charisma, silver-coloured car about 30 metres from the west side station entrance.
I parked the car 'chevron' style to the footpath between two other cars similarly parked, leaving about two feet clearance to both cars on each side.
On returning to our car, just over an hour later, I discovered that the red car, which had been parked on my driver's side, had gone and that the driver's and passenger doors of my car had suffered impact indentation damage through a car reversing improperly.
The driver of the car who damaged mine must have known what they did, but without conscience, left the scene of their action without leaving a note of apology with a contact address or telephone number.
I shall now have to have repairs done through my insurance company, not theirs.
How do people go through life without any remorse or conscience?
Is it possible that someone witnessed the accident and recorded the registration number of the car involved? I should appreciate hearing from them if they did.
JS ANDERSON
34 Hatherton Avenue
Cullercoats
North Shields
(0191) 2512123
SADNESS AT THE FALLING STANDARDS IN EDUCATION
AS a former pupil of Wallsend Grammar School, and of Dr Rogers himself, I would like to add my support to his comments regarding the school.
Although I do not necessarily agree with his political stance, I can say that the standard of education received by myself and my classmates was superb.
Other pupils will also remember the excellent teaching skills of his wife and I hope she will forgive my rather stilted language in this instance.
However, as the period I am referring to was 1967-69, l would also like to express my concern regarding standards of education between then and now.
From 1969 onwards we experienced the innovation of comprehensive education. This was, and is, an ideal which aspires to allow equal opportunities for all pupils, and I know of many people for whom this has been the case. Yet, we are still subjected to cries of elitism if we praise the grammar school system.
Surely there is some way of allowing each to continue to work in harmony, rather than in opposition.
In a society where it seems to have become increasingly difficult for people to enter higher education, and where technology seems at times to rule our lives, I have to say that I am less than satisfied with the experiences my children had to endure, particularly during their middle school years.
It grieves me to say this, as I know that the majority of the teachers involved are dedicated and caring people. In addition I am sure that they, themselves, are aware of where the greatest proportion of the blame lies.
C KING
Chestnut Avenue
Whitley Bay
OPTIMISM IS LOW RELATING TO CHANGE
THREE cheers for Dr Frank Rogers, Our council needs wholesale clearout (letters page, January 30).
His assertion "bottom grade North Tyneside Council urgently needs a wholesale clearout of mayor, councillors and senior officers, plus a genuinely radical change both of policies and administrative methods" is one felt by many North Tyneside folk, sick of incompetence, apathy and indifference so typical of this council.
It is perhaps a little unfair on the mayor who has inherited a horrendous mess from Labour. But his honeymoon period, as reflected in recent correspondence in the News Guardian, is now well and truly over.
If he fails to deliver on priority areas such as environment there will be an electoral price to be paid and his hope of a Tory majority on the council will remain a pipe dream.
The task he faces is enormous. As the Audit Commission report highlighted North Tyneside is one of the worst councils nationwide. Its management and delivery of service is largely poor and weak and not only is it not focused on its priority areas, the chances of it rising from the phoenix of its mediocrity are low and external interference is likely.
Who is to blame? Yes questions do have to be asked about the performance of council managers and staff - but who in our name is supposed to hold them into account? - yes, the elected politicians.
Alas, the general calibre of councillors reflects that of its management. They have lamentably failed to hold to account their administration and this is reflected in all parties, especially Labour.
With the election of Mr Morgan the Tories have a chance to break Labour’s hold on North Tyneside - they have to be radical and innovative. They won't get a second chance.
While Labour must take a deep look at itself - too many of your councillors are out of touch with the electorate (ie the ones that still bother to vote).
Alas, as with Dr Rogers’ conclusion, I also am not optimistic the radical changes needed within the borough will be enacted.
CHRIS MARSHALL
The Green
Wallsend
TAKING CARE OF BODY’S BONES
THE start of a new year sees many people trying to shake off the excess pounds piled on over Christmas. But when we start watching our weight are we in danger of missing out on some of the nutrients vital for keeping our bodies in the best of health?
The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) believes everyone should be thinking about the health of their bones - whatever their age. Osteoporosis is often thought of as a disease of the elderly. While this fragile bone disease occurs more commonly in older age it is important that we look after our bones throughout our lives.
The good news is that eating for your bones needn't be boring. It doesn't have to be fattening either, you can enjoy balanced, calcium rich meals without gaining weight and even when following a weight loss programme.
Calcium plays a vital role in building and maintaining a strong skeleton. It is found in a wide variety of foods. Dairy products are a good source, but often get dropped by people watching their weight because they consider them to be fattening. But skimmed milk and low fat dairy products are still high in calcium despite being low in fat. Other useful sources include green leafy vegetables, bony fish, nuts, seeds and dried fruits. If you've turned your back on sugary or fatty snacks but are still feeling peckish, then try a handful of dried apricots and figs. Sprinkling some seeds over a salad can help to liven it up and provide plenty of nutrients beneficial to your bones.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects one in three women and one in twelve men over the age of 50. You could reduce your risk by eating healthy meals, rich in calcium, and taking regular weight-bearing exercise. If you want to know more about cramming more calcium into meal times the NOS has produced a booklet called Diet and Bone Health" which is priced £3 (inc. p&p).
The NOS has also produced a handy pocket sized A-Z guide to help build better bones called A Skeleton Guide to a Healthy You. Priced £2.25, all profits from this little book go towards our work supporting people with osteoporosis.
To order either, ring the National Osteoporosis Society on (01761) 471771 or visit our website at www.nos.org.uk
TREVOR REID
Communications manager
National Osteoporosis Society
Camerton
Bath
A CHARITY CHALLENGE
I AM writing to ask your readers to join Cancer Research UK and take on the challenge of a lifetime.
We are looking for 300 people to take part in Trek for Life', a special ten-day journey to the Great Wall of China, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2003 (October).
The charity is hoping to raise £1m from the event to go towards its pioneering breast cancer research programme.
Anyone over 18 can join the trek - no matter how unfit you think you may be.
All you need to do is pay a small registration fee and pledge to fundraise a minimum amount of money for Cancer Research UK.
Call the team on 0870 6060016, e-mail ultimatechallenge@cancer.org.uk or check out www.cancerresearchuk.org for more information.
What better way to start the New Year.
CLAIRE BEWELL
National events manager
Cancer Research UK
ASSOCIATION OFFERS SUFFERERS SUPPORT
I AM writing following the recent local and national publicity surrounding the story of Reginald Crew, who had Motor Neurone Disease and travelled to Switzerland for an assisted suicide.
On behalf of the local MND Association, I would like to express my sympathy to Mr Crew's family. It must be an incredibly difficult time for them.
There is no doubt that MND is a devastating condition. However, living with MND is a very individual and personal issue. While some people with the disease feel as Mr Crew did, there are equally many other people who hold the opposite view, and who want to continue living as full and positive a life as possible.
Our branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association is here to support people and their family and carers.
We provide information and support, as well as raise money to help local families affected by the disease.
For information please contact me.
JOHN H SCOTT
6 Cockermouth Road
Sunderland SR5 3LT
IN SEARCH OF RELATIVES
I AM trying to trace surviving relatives on my late father's side of the family and heal any old hurts which might still linger.
My dad, the eighth child, was Harold Octavius Hutchinson, born June 24, 1913. He was conscripted to the Middlesex Regiment, then married Josephine at the end of World War II.
Prior to marriage, Harold was resident at 31 Woodlea Avenue, North Shields. His sister is Alice and brother is Alf, who married Nancy and moved to Kesgrave, near Ipswich, by the mid-1940s, and has daughters Sonia and Stella.
MICHAEL HUTCHINSON
43 Southfield Road
Almondbury
Huddersfield HD5 8SA
(01484) 351273
lynne.michael@ntlworld.com
SUPERB SERVICE
IN this day and age it is rare to receive such excellent service that we experienced recently.
My wife ordered an item (cost well under £5) from a stationary shop in North Shields and agreed to collect it on a certain date.
As the item had not been received from the manufacturer on that date we were informed by telephone call to that effect in order to save an unnecessary trip.
Unfortunately, my wife had left home and was told about the delay by a member of staff on her arrival at the shop.
The employee apologised and ordered to deliver the item as soon as they received it - this promise was kept by a member of staff outside working hours.
Grateful thanks to all concerned at Harry Smith & Co, North Shields.
MR E JONES
Hertford Close
Whitley Bay
COUNCIL SHOULD PAY UP
LIKE many others I was pleased to hear that the council saved money by not sending the gritters out until last Saturday afternoon, following the heavy snowfall.
Perhaps they could use some of it to help with the £1,500 worth of damage done to my new car whilst travelling down the sheer ice on Borough Bank at 4.30pm on Saturday.
ROB GARRARD
Dolphin Quays
North Shields
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