I'M sure there must be a point of being right all the time but I have to report that Citizen Smith hasn't quite got there yet despite another confirmation this week of a scandal first exposed in this paper some time ago.

The bill for losing the Civic Illuminations contract (or at least the amendment to that contract) has now been finalised and readers will be delighted to know that it only cost the local taxpayer £64,836. That of course is if the document ever existed in the first place.

We were told that an officer had misplaced it... perhaps the authority could misplace those responsible and do us all a favour. Readers will rest assured that since the incident was highlighted in this paper, high ranking officers at the town hall (presumably the really clever ones or at leat those on a fairly hefty whack) have conducted an investigation and concluded that better care should be taken of such important documents in the future! Wonder how much that sparkling deduction cost the long-suffering shareholders in LCC plc? Citizen Smith knows of at least one reader who remains far from satisfied with this whole state of affairs. Watch this space.

Another update on the Christley libel affair too as we are informed that legal advisers are to increase their offer of an out-of-court settlement to the former tourism officer unfairly dismissed by the authority. Just a small increase of 500 per cent I hear... and an apology too. Funny that as, all along, we have heard rumblings that certain people claim he was never libelled and that advice was taken before the allegedly damaging statements were issued. Perhaps those responsible (both councillors and officers) would care to have the courage of their convictions and fight this battle themselves. If they are so right, as some assert, they have no fear of losing any cash surely but they would save the authority the trouble and the costs -- what a great gesture that would be eh?

Finally something is to be done about the Winter Gardens fiasco... another murky deal which has left observers with their jaws on the desk and officers wondering if perhaps now, after years, the authority could have some of its money back please! Thank God for one or two dedicated individuals who have worked tirelessly on this and other issues or else the public may have never known about where its money has been going. Certainly wouldn't have found out about it from other papers in the area.

We hear this week also that 54 per cent of staff (presumably of those who have access) have abused/misused the internet system at the town hall. Not making any judgement calls here but I wonder if all those ranting and raving about the reported Geoff Knight incident will now be calling for those affected to attend a meeting of the standards committee for disciplining.

Personally I think people's natural curiosity will generally get the better of them and, in the absence of a structured policy and regulations that the authority, could and should take no further action until they have implemented them and people are under no doubt that they are, in fact, breaching regulations.

Finally they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so, with that in mind, we would like to say thanks and farewell Danny boy!