New Year Comment

Fireworks see in the New Year

Rochdale Online wishes all our readers a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

2012 proved to be a very difficult year for the Borough of Rochdale - let us hope that as 2013 begins that today can be a watershed day for the Borough of Rochdale, that we can move on, with the aid of those elected or employed to serve us, and create a better future for our borough.

However, with the Council intent on raising council tax by an outrageous 3.5%, despite cutting front line services, 2013 is not likely to be any easier unless the leader of the Council, Councillor Lambert can be persuaded that his words in 2009 when he described a similar rise as "outrageous" are as pertinent now as they were then. If not, it would appear the demand on the new Rochdale Foodbank, shameful that such is needed in 2013, will increase further whilst the Council continues to squander six figure sums on 'Feel Good' festivals as the poor struggle to afford food.

The sex grooming scandal and the revelation of Cyril Smith's abuse of young boys has tarnished Rochdale's already poor image and brought the borough to the attention of the nation in a most unwelcome way. Those responsible for cover ups, as well as those who turned a blind eye, should be shamed. The victims of such gross crimes should at long last, following years of frustration, see justice done.

The exodus of senior council officers since the full extent of the grooming scandal and council culpability became known has attracted justifiable criticism, however, it does offer the opportunity to start afresh, providing that well worn cliché so oft trotted out by the Council of 'lessons being learnt' is more than words. Perhaps also the council will stop using mealy mouthed terms like 'missed opportunities' and instead admit mistakes, big mistakes, have been made. Only then is there a chance that the residents will, albeit grudgingly, start to believe anything the council says and maybe, just maybe, begin to respect the difficult job the Council must do to help put Rochdale back on an even keel.

Perhaps 2013 could also be the year the politicians charged with acting in the best interests of the borough could do so instead of putting party politics before all else.

A start could be made by ensuring that Council waste and inefficiency is ruthlessly rooted out, that the proposal to reduce the number of councillors and their bloated 'allowances' is put back on the agenda, and the salaries of senior council officers ceases to be set at levels the residents of the borough find 'obscene'.

Council Leader, Councillor Colin Lambert needs to drastically improve his performance, and curb his fondness for blaming everyone but his own council, if he is to survive the dissent from within his own Labour ranks. The public 'war' between Councillor Lambert and MP Simon Danczuk does nothing to help in such difficult times, perhaps Councillor Lambert and Mr Danczuk could put their differences to one side and start to work together for the benefit of the borough.

We conclude this message as we started, with one of hope for a brighter future: every day is of course a new day but New Year's Day is recognised as a watershed, the opportunity to leave behind the past and to start afresh - let us all do so.