• I AM thankful… thankful that Islington appears to be a well-run London borough.

Thankful that councillors, who do a very hard job, care about poverty, families, immigration, the environment and education and older people.

Our representatives don’t have magic wands to solve every challenge and problem but, with the support of local people, they do well.

Championing Islington Giving is a great feather in the council’s caps. The people-friendly streets initiative has had the effect of calming traffic and making most streets more peaceful, safe, and clean.

The rise in inflation, the cost of fuel, food prices and some taxes are the responsibility of central government. So too are cuts to local government.

Count our blessings, I say.

DAVID SULKIN OBE, WC1