So plenty of letters in from Labour's finest but predictably none meeting my challenge of a fortnight ago to prove the more ridiculous claims made about this paper by some of the group's more sinister figures... why, because they can't, that's why.

They can smear and they can sneer but they can't deal with the facts and so it goes with a lot that's gone wrong with this city.

Public figures under fire on a number of issues including Blobby have threatened decent, honest citizens with legal action and even portrayed them as murky, underworld figures of great mystery in a desperate bid to play the man and not the ball. The truth is, I'm afraid, far more mundane. People pay a lot in Council Tax and expect value for money. They expect officials to give sound advice and they expect elected members to lead from the front. What they've had far too often here is quite the reverse. We've had millions frittered by councillors who will not accept responsibility and officers who have not been required to be accountable for these cock-ups. Contracts have disappeared, side-letters have never been signed, sponsorship cash has not appeared and patently incorrect advice has been given but it seems you can oversee the authority losing millions with impunity -- because the mugs will always pay. Cynically turn it into a political issue and the facts will get lost in the confusion.

Well no more. As was mentioned last week this authority really does need to move on and a management restructure, costly though it is, is at least a step in the right direction. Coupled with some of the more reasonable statements now emerging from Dalton Square it may not be too late for the area.

Regeneration is the key and it is to be hoped that those responsible select dynamic thinkers with proven track records for the remaining key posts available at the town hall. If they get it wrong it could hold back the area for years and years.

Some councillors are now beginning to see that it is they and not the officers who dictate policy and that's a blessed relief but what is needed is a genuine and healthy working relationship between both sides and that is the only direction this authority can head. It will take some time and there will be casualties but surely it is a worthy goal.

Citizen Smith is indebted to one figure involved in the Crinkley Bottom affair who this week had the decency and bravery to call these offices and admit that they now realised we were right about one particularly disturbing aspect of the whole affair.

It's a pity it took so long to sink in and I genuinely hope that this revelation, which came following a visit to the District Auditor, will not prove to be too little, too late for the person concerned.