EVERYONE'S going on about the internet these days and while out surfing the other day I came across the new web site featuring Lancaster City Council.

Well presented and laid out, it's a mine of information, and paints a picture of a forward looking, go getting local authority bursting with vision and imagination to best serve everyone in the district. Hurrah!

For anyone who doesn't have internet access (and that's still the vast majority of us) Citizen Smith felt readers might like a copy of the council's commitment to the people of the district which they can cut out and stick to their fridge.

Here it is - word for word.

"The Council's aim is to improve the quality of life for all people in the area by delivering high quality, responsive services and by working with others to develop the area and its facilities.

Our promise is to work hard in promoting and supporting jobs for local people, ensuring decent, secure and affordable housing and maintaining a safe, clean and sustainable environment.

We will work with local communities in delivering this - we will inform people about our services and will listen to their views. The Council is committed to encouraging citizens to become more actively involved in local democracy and in shaping their area. Our Getting Best Value programme is at the centre of this commitment. We aim to drive up standards and to ensure that local people are getting value for money from their Council."

Something to bear in mind when your increased council tax bill drops through the letter box.

What with Blobby and now the Civic Illuminations dispute - it seems that entering into a contract with the city council is a precarious business. With Blobby, the side-letter designed to protect the public purse against losses, somehow never materialised and now, with Civic Illumination, another agreement which the council swears was drawn up and signed appears to have vanished, presumably along with carbons, computer files et al. Surely there should be some other record somewhere? After all it is very important and could help to save the taxpayer a lot of cash.

Citizen Smith would never dream of suggesting that people don't pay their council tax but when your bill arrives how about writing on it: "We had a variation to the agreement with regard to a substantial discount on my council tax" and sending it back.

When they come round to query this, look bemused and reply: "Oh dear, I can't seem to find it."

Ah well, you can but try!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.