Talking Politics by Councillor Peter Clegg.

3.23.24pm GMT Mon 8th Jan 2007

Firstly, I would like to wish all readers a happy year and hope that you had a good Christmas. I would also like to wish our Asian Readers a Happy Eid and hope that you enjoyed festivities. Spotland and Falinge is a multi-cultural area of which we are hugely proud of. Rochdale Council has Beacon Status for Community Cohesion and this area is a great example of integration and it was good to see all the community enjoying the holiday season together.

Christmas is always a busy time - not least for the staff at Spotland Reform Club who were again able to entertain its elderly members as it's done for a century. I hope to be able to attend their popular pensioner's party in February - continuing a fine and excellent tradition.

In 2006 I was safely re-elected as a Spotland and Falinge Ward Councillor with a huge mandate and I would like to thank the people of the area for their continued support. There has been much talk in these pages about Spotland Library on Ings Lane. Regular readers will be aware that this has been the subject of lengthy debate in these pages above all. There are people who say that just because Rochdale Council has a Liberal Democrat Cabinet, (but the Liberal Democrats do not have overall control of the Council) back bench Councillors of the same party should not challenge them. I say that is nonsense and I will continue with Councillors Barbara Todd, Rodney Stott and our new candidate Greg Couzens to support the Cabinet when their decisions are for the good of Spotland and Falinge and when we have to stand up against them we will. The Library was a good example, and the Cabinet took into consideration our complaints and we managed to guarantee the future of a first class facility.

As a 'back bench Councillor' I receive dozens of complaints, they vary from the state of our streets to the high level of Council Tax. I can assure residents that we act on each and every complaint speedily and always try and resolve them.

Politics is a funny old game - things move very quickly but one constant since I have been involved has always been Councillor Rodney Stott. These are the last few months that he will serve as a Councillor, he has been a Councillor for over 20 years - putting a big part of his life into active service for our Town and was an excellent Mayor of Rochdale. If you look in the Council Chamber you will see Councillor Stott's 'Coat of Arms'. Each Mayor gets to choose what they want and Rodney's says a lot about his life. Whether it be as an outspoken Councillor, a hard working advocate for our Town or as an ambulance driver.

Things change though and we have already selected businessman Greg Couzens to stand in his place in May's Elections. Greg has joined us on our regular visits to Constituents and is already proving extremely popular make sure I will continue to fight for the best interests of Spotland and Falinge.

Councillor Peter Clegg - Using the Backbenches to campaign for Spotland and Falinge.