During the recent elections at the beginning of May, Shildon Town Council had a political change of hands. It was a case of out with the old and in with the older still, with the Labour Party regaining control of the town council after years in the Shildon doldrums.

It won’t be an easy task for any group to pull the rabbit out of what is the town’s economical hat.

The previously independent run council have managed to empty the coffers and reserves are at an all-time low. Was it the hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on the less than profitable Civic Hall, or perhaps using financial reserves to artificially keep council tax down that caused their downfall.

As a parting gesture the old council agreed to spend over thirty thousand pounds on renovations to the Civic. It may be my simple mind but developing a strategic business plan might have been a better aim. Hopefully the new incumbents will address the failing Civic as a priority.

Parting can be sweet sorrow, but not for those independents and Liberal Democrats who managed to get on the town council, who after being successful in the democratic process refused to join any of the sub committees. One councillor who failed to be elected to an outside body, in a fit of pique or maybe throwing the toys out of the pram, walked out of the meeting - what would those who voted for him think?

Shildon may have been quiet of late, but no doubt the fun will continue in what is known by some as Shildon’s political bun fight.