It is vitally important for councillors and officers to develop a close and reliable working relationship, considering the size of the task ahead of the Lib Dems who must hit the ground running when they take over control of the city at the local authority's annual meeting this week.

That relationship is now tarnished after senior officers foolishly circulated details of the new team's innermost thoughts. It will be a sign of the maturity of the new leadership if this wounding experience can be quickly put behind them and they get on with the job of running the city.

Confidence in this park's tall order
WELL done to Richard Hawley for helping raise £10,000 so the Friends of Endcliffe Playground can pay for equipment. This not only shows how Richard continues to be a true ambassador for the city, putting its interests at the forefront of his priorities, but it also indicates the importance of our park Friends' groups, which have become a vital element in keeping our green spaces open and vibrant.

Now the Endcliffe group is moving on towards a £300,000 target to redesign the park. It's a tall order, but there will be a lot of confidence that it is achievable after this early success.

Jamie in a twizzle
FOR all the efforts of St Jamie Oliver, it looks like healthy school dinners could soon be falling victim to the current rate of inflation. Local authorities have discovered that the cost of providing a better sort of lunch is on the increase and that the old favourites might provide a more economical option. At which point thousands of youngsters, not to mention one Bernard Matthews, will no doubt be delighted to hear that Turkey Twizzlers will be back on the menu!

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