Not many people are compared to a saint and a Roman Emperor in the same breath, but that was the fate that befell the late Joe Walton recently.

For those who don't know, Joe Walton founded the famous club that bears his name in Middlesbrough, and which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.

At the celebration, the Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Rev Robert Ladds, likened Joe Walton with Constantine and St Hilda - people with strong North-East links who had changed the world for the better.

Determined to do something for the youth of Middlesbrough, Joe opened his boys' club in 1906 and though he died, aged just 30, in 1913, his legacy lives on. Now known as Joe Walton's Community and Youth Club, it has over 800 members and 25 staff.

Thousands have passed through its doors and, though it still keeps youngsters off the streets, the club offers many other activities, including Sure Start programmes for young parents.

I attended the centenary celebration and it re-affirmed the belief I have that most people are basically good and want to help their local community. And they are quick to seize the chance to collar the mayor to try and get some money off the council.

In one hour, I was asked if the council would donate over £750,000 to various causes. That doesn't include the million pounds plus to provide concessionary bus fares for young people.

Earlier this year I completed a series of public meetings covering every district in the town. I calculated that to meet the demands of the local people would cost the council £350m.

Considering we have a budget of £117m, it is obvious many people are going to be disappointed. Perhaps that's why some people feel their local council is out of touch.

I have no problem with people asking for money - after all it is public money and they have every right to suggest how it should be spent. However, I do have a problem with those who will not accept that others have different views to theirs.

I have now realised that when I was first elected there was a small number of people who homed in on me for the wrong reasons. Instead of seeing an elected mayor as a force for good, a chance to improve things in the town, they saw me as a way of attacking their enemies, a chance to further their personal agenda whether that was anti a particular person, anti a particular party or simply anti-establishment. Sadly, such people feel others are not entitled to an opinion unless it agrees with theirs.

People sometimes imagine that I never compromise, that I decide what is right and pursue that goal relentlessly. In fact, I take soundings from a wide range of people from within and without the council before deciding upon a course of action. On occasions I have been persuaded to change my mind.

This is not a weakness. It is far weaker to continue to pursue a course which you realise is wrong simply because you don't want to lose face.

I'm convinced that we must focus energies on young people. The way they are brought up and the opportunities they are offered, will impact on all our futures.

This doesn't mean we will ignore every other cause. Of course, we must take care of our old people and other sectors of society. But my emphasis is definitely on youth because, as Joe Walton has shown, you can make a difference. What you put in now will reap dividends for generations.