AT last one councillor, and a Tory too, is urging his colleagues to come up with a vision for the future - and some action.

It is, in fact, a call for sensible and pragmatic leadership, admitting the appalling lack of it. The continuing buzz-word at Ryedale is 'best value' for everything but, it would seem, our councillors and top management.

If Ryedale District Council was run, as it should be, on a commercial basis, a lot of people would have been on their bikes a long time ago. What do we get for our council taxes, people are asking. The real problem is what we don't get. Ryedale council has no responsibility for any parks, playing fields or theatres. The only arts events organised by its arts office is its annual arts show in the Milton Rooms which seems to get worse every year. It has tourism officers who are quick to inform that they have no budget for any initiatives. In a commercial atmosphere they would be required to come up with self-financing ideas to promote our struggling tourist industry.

The district has a run-down swimming pool, a better one (provided by the people of Pickering), a sports hall which doesn't seem to function well and a cash-strapped leisure company set up by the council some years ago to run these amenities on a shoe-string budget.

Ryedale never seems to get any of the cash sloshing about and available from so many sources - government, lottery, sports bodies and Yorkshire Arts.

The council needs a whiz-kid, go-getter, to make sure our district gets its share.

But it doesn't need someone who will quickly be neutered by the stifling bureaucracy at Ryedale House.

May I suggest all councillors take a very long look at neighbouring Hambleton District council, and especially its social and leisure facilities developed over the years. And its management, staff and initiatives. It is rated one of the top five councils in Britain. Hambleton is Tory controlled, but its members don't waste their time moaning about the government or in petty political feuding. They work as a team to improve the quality of life of everyone. A shining example to Ryedale councillors and management.

It has just won £540,000 towards a new sports centre in Northallerton with a floodlit all-weather pitch.

BILL ANDERSON

Norton

Updated: 12:25 Thursday, March 21, 2002