Chilcot Report to be published today; is the future never-ending austerity?
Chilcot Report to be published today; is the future never-ending austerity?
Today, the Chilcot Report will finally be published. You may well ask what has this to do with local politics?
Well the tax revenue that goes on war can’t be spent here in the UK on schools or hospitals or a thousand and other matters that the people would like more of.
What did the Mayor of Wirral put in his letter to councillors asking them to behave better?
What did the Mayor of Wirral put in his letter to councillors asking them to behave better?
When I was younger there was a cartoon called Stoppit and Tidy Up (yes I realise I’m showing my age) narrated by the late Terry Wogan.
In it were two characters called BeeQuiet and BeeHave (hence the picture above).
Prior to last night’s Council meeting, a copy of a letter from the Mayor was put on all 66 councillors’ desks, then orders from above meant the copies were gathered back in again, only to be handed out again later.
At the actual meeting itself Labour councillors voted to reduce the scrutiny function at Wirral Council and reduce the number of scrutiny committees from four to three. This was opposed by the Green councillor, Lib Dem councillors and Conservative councillors.
However the letter from the Mayor to councillors is a "BeeQuiet and BeeHave" letter.
There were also speeches from each of the three party leaders about the EU Referendum.
Video of the first part of the Council meeting is included below the letter, I will add the second part once it has uploaded.
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Council (Wirral Council) 27th June 2016 EU Referendum and changes to scrutiny Part 1 of 2
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Good afternoon Phil
I have begun to pick myself up after the outcome of the Referendum, an outcome neither of us desired.
However the result is what it is and I’ve no idea when the Government will set Article 50 in motion.
In the meantime I would welcome any briefing papers you can supply on the on the European funding stream that exist currently
I expect there will be streams we have expected and planned / hoped for and still are working to gain for Wirral and the region.
I say working to gain as I feel we have to start work on this!
With Cabinet coming up on Monday morning I expect you will want to address this, possibly under any other business / urgency.
Thinking on these lines would suggest that a statement to Cabinet, a referral or Motion to Council might run along these lines…
. Council/Cabinet recognises that funding is currently available for a range of projects, training and investments to support our local and regional economy.
Council is, as with many other bodies, is uncertain on how the funding streams might be replaced, and when but believe arrangements must be made to
secure equivalent replacement funding.
Council therefore calls on the present Government to clarify the situation, offer certainty to our region, and continue the programmes as
envisaged. Council asks for assurances that the UK Government and any successor will match pound for pound any funding stream that are now at risk as a result of the Referendum.
Ideally each group on the Council would accept a formula to present a united approach from Wirral and the region. I would be happy to develop the wording in consultation.
. At various times in the recent campaign various ‘Leave’ people suggested that money would be ‘freed’ for the NHS, Agriculture, etc.
I cannot recall seeing whether ‘regional’ aid got the same treatment!
I will be home on 334 1923 on Sunday evening if you would like to have a word.
Where is your polling station (for Wirral voters) for the 2016 EU Referendum vote?
Today is polling day in the EU Referendum vote. Here is the question on the ballot paper.
Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?
Polling stations are open on the Wirral from 7.00 am and close at 10.00 pm. You don’t need your polling card to vote, but you will need to tell the polling clerk your name and address.
The first letter of your unique electoral number (eg A) refers to the ward (in this case Bidston & St James). The second letter (eg E) refers to the polling district within that ward.
Each polling district has its own polling station.
Due to this being a national election and the results from various areas needing to be collated, the Electoral Commission estimates a result could be declared around 6.00 am on Friday 24th June 2016.