What was in the 4 page secret report to councillors about Wirral Council making payments to a company that doesn’t exist?

What was in the 4 page secret report to councillors about Wirral Council making payments to a company that doesn’t exist?

What was in the 4 page secret report to councillors about Wirral Council making payments to a company that doesn’t exist?

                                       

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Audit and Risk Management Committee (Wirral Council) 24th April 2019 Part 2 of 3 Forge House Associates

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Audit and Risk Management Committee (Wirral Council) 24th April 2019 Part 3 of 3 Forge House Associates

Councillors at yesterday’s public meeting of Wirral Council’s Audit and Risk Management Committee (which can be watched above) considered a report on Forge House Associates Limited (a copy of the previously secret 4 page report that councillors decided should be made public is at the end of this blog post).
Continue reading “What was in the 4 page secret report to councillors about Wirral Council making payments to a company that doesn’t exist?”

What were the top 10 most watched videos during an incredible 2018?

What were the top 10 most watched videos during an incredible 2018?

What were the top 10 most watched videos during an incredible 2018?

                                           

Cllr Phil Davies on Hoylake Golf Resort at Hoylake Community Centre 9th December 2017
Cllr Phil Davies on Hoylake Golf Resort at Hoylake Community Centre 9th December 2017

Happy New Year! So what were the ten most watched videos on this blog’s Youtube channel in 2018 (by minutes viewed)?


10 In reverse order, number ten was a video of Liverpool City Council filmed on the 14th November 2018. Jean Luc Courcoult and Royal De Luxe (the artistic director and company behind the Giants) were in that order added to the Freedom Roll of Association or awarded Freedom of the City.
Continue reading “What were the top 10 most watched videos during an incredible 2018?”

Auditors state Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money for 3rd year in a row!

Auditors state Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money for 3rd year in a row!

Auditors state Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money for 3rd year in a row!

                              

Chris Whittingham (Grant Thornton) 29th January 2018 Audit and Risk Management Committee (Wirral Council)
Chris Whittingham (Grant Thornton) 29th January 2018 Audit and Risk Management Committee (Wirral Council)

Wirral Council’s auditors Grant Thornton will be telling councilors on Wirral Council’s Audit and Risk Management Committee at a public meeting on Monday 23rd July that Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money. Their concerns about Children’s Services are outlined in a report by Grant Thornton to be discussed by councillors.

The auditors also mention in their report the late publication of the draft Annual Governance Statement (as previously reported on this blog).
Continue reading “Auditors state Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money for 3rd year in a row!”

Why did Wirral Council fail to publish its draft Annual Governance Statement by the legal deadline?

Why did Wirral Council fail to publish its draft Annual Governance Statement by the legal deadline?

Why did Wirral Council fail to publish its draft Annual Governance Statement by the legal deadline?

                                              

Shaer Halewood (Director for Finance and Investments (Wirral Council)) 29th January 2018
Shaer Halewood (Director for Finance and Investments (Wirral Council)) 29th January 2018

A week ago I made an objection to Wirral Council and its auditor Grant Thornton, that prior to the thirty-day inspection period running from 1st June 2018 to 12th July 2018 that the draft Annual Governance Statement hadn’t been published on Wirral Council’s website prior to this 30 day period starting. Publication prior to the 30 day period starting is a requirement of regulations 15(2)(a)(ii) and 15(3) of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (when read together).
Continue reading “Why did Wirral Council fail to publish its draft Annual Governance Statement by the legal deadline?”

Auditors state Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money for 2nd year in a row!

Auditors state Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money for 2nd year in a row!

Auditors state Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money for 2nd year in a row!

                                                      

Cabinet 17th December 2014 voting to close Lyndale School L to R Cllr Tony Smith (Cabinet Member for Education), Cllr George Davies, Cllr Ann McLachlan
Cabinet 17th December 2014 voting to close Lyndale School L to R Cllr Tony Smith (Cabinet Member for Education), Cllr George Davies, Cllr Ann McLachlan

Wirral Council’s auditors Grant Thornton will be telling councilors on Wirral Council’s Audit and Risk Management Committee next Monday evening (25th September 2017) that Wirral Council doesn’t provide value for money.

The auditor’s concerns are to do with the lack of improvement following the OFSTED report last year that rated Wirral Council as inadequate. In a report to be discussed by councillors next week the auditors state:

“In September 2016, Ofsted issued its report on the inspection of the Authority’s services for children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers. The overall judgement was that children’s services were rated as inadequate. The inspection found widespread and serious failures in the services provided to children who need help and protection.

The Council has established an Improvement Board and developed an Improvement Plan to address the Ofsted recommendations, and provided an update on progress in its Annual Governance Statement. However, a subsequent Ofsted monitoring visit in April 2017 reported that while inspectors identified areas of strength and improvement, there are still some areas where inspectors considered that progress has not yet met expectations.

This matter is evidence of weaknesses in proper arrangements for understanding and using appropriate and reliable financial and performance information to support informed decision making and performance management, and for planning, organising and developing the workforce effectively to deliver strategic priorities.”

Since the publication of the OFSTED report, the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services Cllr Tony Smith, the Director for Children’s Services Julia Hassall and the Chair of the Improvement Board Eleanor Brazil have all resigned (for clarity Cllr Tony Smith resigned from his Cabinet position not as a councillor).

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