AS the deadline for last week's edition loomed last Thursday and we waited to hear who would be unveiled that morning as North Yorkshire's new chief constable, we speculated on what sort of police officer would be selected to follow in Della Cannings' footsteps.

Given the rather controversy-prone years of Ms Cannings, the considered view of the D&S Times staff was that what was needed was a conventional safe pair of hands.

Spectator hopes we are not tempting fate but Grahame Maxwell looks as if he fits that description to a tee.

Who was it?

The infamous Harry Tabiner emails he sent to staff in the final weeks of his time as Richmondshire District Council's chief executive have found their way to Spectator. We have already reported the more contentious points he made in them but one little aside was particularly intriguing.

Recalling some of the amusing moments during his 15 years, he referred to a public meeting where a Richmondshire councillor referred to the chief executive of the health authority as "the chief nigger". Mr Tabiner didn't name the very un-PC representative. Can anyone inform Spectator who he, or she, was?

New mood music

By all accounts, there was a very different atmosphere at last week's council meeting at Swale House. Interim chief executive Jack Neal went out of his way to make contact with some of the council's sternest critics, the Save Our Shire group, described by Mr Tabiner in the aforementioned emails as the "usual Rentamob".

During a break in the proceedings, Mr Neal broke new ground by shaking hands and speaking to members of Save Our Shire and elected members of all political parties, something that has not happened during the two years Save Our Shire has monitored council's proceedings.

Spectator hopes this new spirit of inclusiveness continues. However, the council's troubles are probably not quite over yet. The issue of councillor training is one which is still making some members fell decidedly tetchy.

Next week's election results are eagerly awaited like none other in the council's history.

Railway irony

HOW ironic is this? Our business page this week contains a report of a company which has expanded and moved premises - from Stockton, which played its part in rail history, to Northallerton. Directors say a critical reason is that the Northallerton premises are within walking distance of a main railway line.