Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Thursday, 30 November 2006

A Council seminar started the day. I don't normally write about such, but it was highly relevant, I thought. Unite were explaining about their work in conciliation and mediation. I started to make notes but just wrote two lines, "constructive and future focussed" and "neutral person" which summed up what they meant to me. They are there for any sort of dispute - have a look at their website for more information.

Then a meeting with an officer before going over to the Town Hall for the open afternoon. I was not feeling very bright and up to meeting lots of people, but when I opened the door and heard a band playing carols, the warmth came out to meet me. St John's Ambulance band had come along to play, and I cannot thank them enough for transforming the Town Hall that afternoon. I did enjoy meeting the people who came along, including a user of the Butterwick Outreach service, one of my charities, who told me about the huge difference it made to her. As before, some other parts of history unfolded. One gentleman told me how the building had changed since he walked in there 66 years ago, to work in the internal audit section of the Council. He had a fascinating story to tell of how they worked, and sat on tall stools in front of huge sloping desks. He was pleased, but not surprised, to hear that the department is still going strong, but with a bit more up to date equipment! When we showed people the new plaque in honour of Dr M'Gonigle one person said that another problem of people moving into the new houses on Swainby and Danby Road was that the children couldn't stop turning the lights on and off - they were so fascinated with them!

I then went along to the new youth Space on Skinner Street. I wasn't there as mayor, but couldn't resist taking the photos of what they had written on the wall - how positive is that!

Then to Georgia Brown's in Dovecot Street to see their newly refurbished premises. It did look a nice place to meet and eat, and I enjoyed meeting the new management. Their website will be ready soon and I will post it when I get it.

Home for some long phone calls and then out to another meeting.