MY feelings about glossy council magazines have been made plain enough.

It is wrong to use distribution networks, propped up with public money, to compete with independent local newspapers for advertising revenue while often spreading party political propaganda.

One of the better things Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has done is to order council magazines to be published no more than quarterly, though it’s unclear what sanctions disobedient local authorities will face.

Now, the controversy is taking a new twist.

As an alternative to cutting jobs, Hartlepool Borough Council’s public relations team has been given permission to generate income by offering communication services to external organisations.

Clients so far include Wynyard Business Park, Cleveland Fire Brigade and the majority of schools in the borough.

I have a number of questions:

• How does a council competing with private PR firms square with the Government’s big idea for the North-East: to boost the private sector in order to rebalance a regional economy over-reliant on the public sector?

• Is there not clear potential for conflicts of interest? Will, for example, the council’s PR department look after the press release if the business park submits a planning application?

• And if they have the time for private work, does it not suggest they’re over-staffed?

I wonder what Mr Pickles thinks.

ONE of the most readable stories of the past week was the juicy saga branded “the mother-in-law from hell”.

Carolyn Bourne, from Devon, became an internet sensation after pulling no punches in what was meant to be a private email to her stepson Freddie’s prospective bride.

She told Heidi Withers – in a withering attack – that she had no manners and that she pitied poor Freddie.

We carried the story on Friday alongside a string of mother-in-law jokes, my personal favourite being the Les Dawson classic: “My mother-in-law fell down a wishing well.

I never knew they worked.”

The joke on us was that we placed the whole lot directly above our Win A Wedding competition.

BEFORE Wimbledon, I published a rash statement on Twitter that Andy Murray was a good bet at 9-1 to win the men’s title.

And I was challenged to put my money where my mouth was when I helped launch a business networking organisation called The Mussel Club in Darlington last week.

It was the day before Murray’s semi-final against Rafael Nadal, and Ray Lowery, director of a company called Synkro, promised to donate £90 to Butterwick Hospice if the Scot lifted the trophy. If he didn’t, I had to cough up a tenner.

He didn’t, but if I am going to lose money, I suppose it’s better off with the Butterwick than it is with Ladbrokes.

ON the subject of the Butterwick, it was nice to see North East Life magazine featuring a spread from the recent corporate lunch for the hospice.

The magazine kindly reports that I was made “the Butterwick’s fist ambassador”.

I was actually made the Butterwick first ambassador. I’d hate anyone to think I’ve been charged with going round threatening to punch anyone who doesn’t make a sizeable donation.