Ray Mallon, once "Robocop" and now the first directly-elected mayor of Middlesbrough, is re-joining The Northern Echo. In his first despatch, he outlines his plans to rebuild the town now under his control.

A FEW eventful weeks have passed since I last wrote in The Northern Echo and I'm honoured to be asked to resume my column. Now no longer a policeman, I am free to express my views on a much wider range of topics - but, then again, as Mayor of Middlesbrough, people will rightly expect me to put my words into action.

Since being elected, I have spent my time studying the way that local government is run. I prefer to get a good feel for a situation rather than jumping in feet first.

I have learned a great deal.

One of the most important things I now realise is that, although Middlesbrough council is responsible for £350m of public money, it only has any control over a proportion of this amount.

In many areas the council is simply a halfway house with no influence on how the money is spent.

For example, the council receives £70m from the Government for education which then goes directly to schools. It is right that this happens because head teachers are the best people to decide how the money can best benefit their schools.

Another example is housing benefit, which the council administers on behalf of the Government.

But that is not to say that the council cannot make sensible savings in some areas and that resources cannot be redistributed to improve the quality of life for local people.

I have always believed those wishing to impose their ideas on others have to lead by example, which is why, on the first day in office, I ordered a review of councillors' expenses. This policy has received a lot of publicity and savings have been made.

However, I should make it clear that the change has been well received by councillors themselves, and I now consider the matter closed.

I hope this episode sends out the message to hard-working staff and residents that the council is committed to making the best possible use of every penny of taxpayers' money.

Middlesbrough has become used to receiving knocks over the years, the recent postcode survey revealing we have some of the lowest income households in Britain, being the latest.

I do wonder whether this constant negativity has had an effect on the morale and aspirations of some members and officers of the council.

I look at a town like Gateshead and the profile it enjoys. The town could easily have been lost in the shadow of Newcastle but, instead, it has fought tooth and nail successfully to establish its own identity.

Over the years, Gateshead has hosted the International Garden Festival, developed a sports complex with an international reputation and built the biggest indoor shopping complex in Europe.

And it has stamped its individuality on the nation's conscience with the Angel of the North and the Millennium Bridge.

I have that same ambition for Middlesbrough and, over the next few years, we will build an art gallery, a new public square, restore the town hall for public use and regenerate the former dock. More will follow.

There is no rule that states the Eden Project had to be built in Cornwall and not Teesside, that the underworld attraction The Deep had to be built in Hull and not Middlesbrough. I regard Middlesbrough very much as a town we can make better and more successful. Major decisions taken in the next few years will dictate how successful we are.

Like other industrial areas, Middlesbrough has seen its major source of employment ravaged in recent years. No longer can our children leave school with high hopes of an apprenticeship at ICI or British Steel.

One area in which we have made substantial progress is in the provision of further education facilities. But the worry is that we are attracting keen, intelligent young people to study in the town, only to lose them when they have qualified.

The challenge faced by everyone with Middlesbrough's best interests at heart is to take the town forward by attracting new long-term investment.

I believe the appearance of the town, the impression we exude, is vital to this, and I want a public debate on how local people can contribute to making the town a better place. I look at some of the magnificent buildings, like the Town Hall or the library, and wonder what our ancestors, who bequeathed such wonderful architecture, must think of the appearance of more recent efforts.

The bus station development is a vast improvement, but I believe the Middlehaven site can act as a real catalyst for change in the way people perceive Middlesbrough.

Along with the Chief Executive, John Foster, I have spent some time with the world-renowned architects Jan Gehl and Lars Gemzoe discussing the challenges we face. Ideally, we want Middlehaven to link seamlessly with the town with open spaces and pedestrianisation encouraging visitors and town centre workers to enjoy their day.

Of course, the problem is the A66, which runs like a scar through the centre. I welcome any suggestions as to a solution.

What is vital is that all councillors and council staff work together to achieve our goal of securing Middlesbrough's future.

Naturally I expect - and accept - valid criticism of anything I put forward, but I think it is pointless when certain councillors simply criticise everything put forward by anyone who does not belong to their political party - or indeed their faction of a party. They are motivated by self-interest - not by the best interests of the town they serve.

I made a point of inviting every member of the council to apply for an executive post and we now have a cabinet reflecting the broad cross section of opinion within the council chamber.

It surprised me that those quickest to criticise in order to grab a bit of self-publicity, did not even bother applying for an executive post. Perhaps they were not prepared to make the commitment required. After all, it is far easier to find fault than find solutions.

Politicians will make mistakes but this should not necessarily mean the end of their careers because they will often have much to offer. Stephen Byers is a prime example. It may not be the popular thing to say, but I actually admire the man.

In North Tyneside, where he served for many years as a councillor, he will be remembered for introducing pre-school provision which was second to none. In Government, he was handed an impossible task and the Prime Minister admits his department was far too big and it has now been split into two.

Stephen Byers made mistakes but his past record has earned him the right to a second chance.

As Mayor of Middlesbrough, I intend to ensure that jobs will go to the best candidates and I want to encourage fresh thinking and innovative ideas from everyone - councillors, officers, staff and residents. Working together is the best way to take the town forward.

* Ray Mallon's column will appear in The Northern Echo every Friday