I'M sure many people regard the census form that pops through your door every ten years as little more than junk mail. Another demand on an already busy day.

In fact, the far-reaching impact of that form makes it just about the most important document there is concerning the future of your town and city.

The government uses census returns to estimate population and, from this, calculates how much grant should be paid from central government to individual councils.

If an area has a falling population then its cash support from central government will fall as well and this can lead to a spiral of decline.

This alarming prospect was in the forefront of our minds when we launched the Raising Hope initiative in Middlesbrough a year ago.

We have 18,000 students in Middlesbrough and we need to encourage them to stay on in the town after they have qualified. Obviously, this means there has to be jobs available, but there also have to be the facilities that other towns offer.

The same is true for attracting new businesses. When companies set up they need to know that employees are happy to live in the area.

In partnership with the police and other agencies, we set ourselves the challenging target of reducing offending rates by 15 per cent in 12 months.

By doing that you reduce not only crime but, just as importantly, the fear of crime and safe streets are the first step in improving a town's image.

I'm delighted to say we have achieved our target, but that is no excuse to relax: we must now push on to stage two.

As well as maintaining our safer streets we want to make them cleaner. Litter louts cost ratepayers millions of pounds a year and destroy the fabric and image of their towns.

People dropping litter in the street or spitting out gum can expect a reprimand or fine. Those responsible for graffiti and flyposters will also be targeted.

We have ambitious plans for a town centre revival in Middlesbrough with an art gallery and civic square - we cannot allow a thoughtless minority to undermine our efforts.

We want to encourage a wide range of facilities from an artistic quarter to a restaurant sector and I am interested in speaking to anyone keen to bring business to the town.

I was disappointed to discover that in the 2003 Good Food Guide there is not a single entry for Middlesbrough - indeed there is only one in the whole of Teesside.

Before the old chestnut of southern bias raises its head I should point out that members of the public can nominate restaurants for the guide - so is this another example of us hiding our light under a bushel?

Or possibly it's because entrepeneurs looking around for new locations are put off this neck of the woods because they feel the conditions aren't right.

Well, I hope they will look again. In Middlesbrough we can offer safer streets, cleaner streets, a town working in harmony and a council willing to listen.