Video of Wirral Council Special Cabinet meeting over Lyndale School and copy of Cabinet recommendation for closure
Video of Wirral Council Special Cabinet meeting over Lyndale School and copy of Cabinet recommendation for closure
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Video of the Special Cabinet meeting held on the 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School. Please note there is a small break in filming between parts 5 and 6 in order for depleted batteries to be changed.
Councillor Tony Smith (Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services) at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith (Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services), Cllr Bernie Mooney and Lyndzay Roberts
Below is a copy of the recommendation agreed at the special meeting of Wirral Council’s Cabinet on the 4th September 2014. An amendment to this recommendation was also proposed and agreed, however the amendment wasn’t circulated to those present at the meeting and the below is the original (unamended) recommendationEd – 7/9/14 10:18 recommendation as amended by the new amendment which adds part 1.3.
CABINET – 4TH SEPTEMBER 2014
THE LYNDALE SCHOOL
RECOMMENDATION
1.1 Cabinet thanks all those who have participated in the consultation exercise, with particular regard to submissions from parents of children at The Lyndale School.
1.2 Having reviewed the responses received during the consultation process, analysed the alternative options and applied the SEN Improvement Test, is it recommended that:
Statutory notices be published in respect of the closure of The Lyndale School from January 2016.
That Wirral Council, under the leadership of the Director of Children’s Services, work individually, with children and families, towards effecting a smooth and supportive transition to an alternative place at one of the following schools:
Elleray Park Special School
Stanley Special School
Another appropriate school
In doing so, that the Director of Children’s Services, in acknowledgement of the close relationships that exist between staff and pupils at The Lyndale School, investigates if staff could be employed, where possible, at receiving schools, (subject to legal practice and the approval of governing bodies).
The Director of Children’s Services be authorised to take all necessary steps to publish the proposals and ensure the prescribed procedures are followed, including requesting permissions from the Secretary of State, in furtherance of the proposals.
A further report be brought on the outcome of the publication of the statutory notices.
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1.3 That the Director of Children’s Services to ensure that Education, Health and Care Plans for all pupils of the Lyndale School are completed by the 31st October.
2.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
2.1 Having looked at all the options, and applied the SEN Improvement Test, it is our opinion that, while we recognise the special place that The Lyndale School has in the affection of parents and children, the continued operation and maintenance of a school of this size will not meet the future educational needs of the children, nor is a financially viable option, especially when there are good alternative options available.
The Council has a responsibility to ensure for the sustainable future provision of education for the pupils of The Lyndale School. In addition, we have to manage resources effectively for all schools and the school population.
This has been a difficult decision to make, and we would like to affirm our continued intention to work positively with the families and the children affected, and reassure parents of our continued commitment to their child’s wellbeing and education.
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A Martian tries to understand the incredible Lyndale School situation (episode 2)
A Martian tries to understand the incredible Lyndale School situation (episode 2)
Marvin the Martian from Disney’s Looney Tunes
The below is a fictional interview with Marvin the Martian about Lyndale School. Marvin the Martian is trademarked to Warner Brothers Entertainment. Our legal team point out their trademark doesn’t actually cover its use on blogs but in case they try to argue this blog is an “entertainment service”, it isn’t, so no laughing! Yes I mean it, not even a smile! We also point out it’s not an infringing use of class 9 of this trademark as that refers to its use on goods rather than virtually.
JOHN BRACE: Thanks for agreeing to talk about Lyndale School (again).
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: You’re welcome, but I must admit we’re even more confused today.
JOHN BRACE: Why’s that?
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well we just listened from our spaceship to the BBC Radio Merseyside broadcast.
JOHN BRACE: Ahh, I see.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: The way Lyndale was described it’s a hospital, not a school.
JOHN BRACE: I see why you’re confused. It’s both in a way.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well thanks for clearing that point up. So now we can say the red politicians want to close a hospital?
JOHN BRACE: No the red politicians will say they invented free hospitals, that hospitals are very dear to their heart and that they don’t want to privatise them as it doesn’t fit with their socialist ideals. They’ll tell you that hospitals aren’t safe in the hands of the blues or the yellows (or any other colour than red).
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But the blues, yellows and greens want to keep this “hospital” open! The reds keep voting at every stage to close it!
JOHN BRACE: The reds will say they just voted for “consultation”, won’t call it a hospital and if pressed, they’ll just blame it on the blues and the yellows.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Right there’s another point I want clearing up now too. The bureaucrats who work for the reds, say that the blues and yellows are giving the reds an extra £260,029 this year for special educational needs.
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But the blues and the yellows say that it’s not £260,029, but £364,135 and that the reds were told in January that they can spend this SEN Reform Revenue Grant to “choose how to spend the money in order to best meet local need” and that its purposes is (according to the blues/yellows) to “improve outcomes for children and young people with SEN; increase choice and control for parents; and promote a less adversarial system.”?
JOHN BRACE: The reds would prefer you didn’t mention that.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why?
JOHN BRACE: Well their whole argument is blaming the blues and yellows for giving them less money, not more. It’s an “inconvenient truth”.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And in politics you don’t talk about the inconvenient truths?
JOHN BRACE: Yes, it’s not diplomatic or tactful to do so. If you try that with a red politician they’ll call you “political”.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And why is that a bad thing?
JOHN BRACE: Because like unravelling a ball of string, once you start plucking away at one bit the whole thing starts falling apart.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So the reds believe if they repeat enough that the blues and yellows are giving them less money that people like BBC Radio Merseyside will repeat it?
JOHN BRACE: Yes, they’ve been on a media training course you see.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Oh, in how to deal with people like you?
JOHN BRACE: Partly, but anyway your arguments about money are pointless.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why?
JOHN BRACE: Because Wirral Council has been given the money referred to above (at least the first two instalments), but they don’t officially have it.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What kind of double talk is that?
JOHN BRACE: It’s not part of the budget that Labour agreed back in the Spring of 2014.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Was that deliberate?
JOHN BRACE: You mean they’d deliberately try to close the school, then suddenly magically find money they knew they had all along but tried to keep quiet and then use that to keep it open to make themselves look wonderful?
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: No, did they deliberately set a budget knowing they had this extra money?
JOHN BRACE: I don’t know, you’d better ask them.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Going back to the radio show, they said it should be about the children.
JOHN BRACE: Yes it should.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So why do they keep getting talked out of the discussion?
JOHN BRACE: Because politicians would rather score political points.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: I listened to the parents, they referred to a “David versus Goliath” battle.
JOHN BRACE: It always is with Wirral Council, see the battles I had with them over filming meetings (until central government stepped in).
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So they were worried you’d film them “scoring political points”?
JOHN BRACE: No.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Oh so they were worried you’d film them trying to close a school?
JOHN BRACE: No.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So what were the reasons then?
JOHN BRACE: Health and safety.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well that’s ironic in a way isn’t it? They’re bothered about the health and safety implications of you filming meetings but not the health and safety of the Lyndale children?
JOHN BRACE: You might put it that way, I couldn’t possibly comment.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well, the parents seem to think it’ll affect their children’s health if the school is closed.
JOHN BRACE: A lot of people think it would.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And if the school closes all the staff are out of a job too.
JOHN BRACE: Yes, but the reds are the “party of the workers”.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What does that mean?
JOHN BRACE: It means they side with the unions and the workers.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Ahh, so the unions want to close Lyndale?
JOHN BRACE: No, the unions are against closure. See UNISON’s response starting on page 37 which states the consultation was “misleading” and compared to Children’s Centres that there is no “equality or fairness” for Lyndale staff. NUT (National Union of Teachers) also states the consultation was “misleading” and that if Lyndale was closed “some of our most vulnerable pupils will be left without access to a local school.”
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: This whole politics thing is starting not to make any sense!
JOHN BRACE: Now you know how people feel about the whole thing.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So to recap, the blues and yellows gave the reds more money for this sort of thing that the reds won’t spend (yet). The reds say the blues and yellows are giving them less money.
The blues, yellows, reds and greens all say they’re on the side of the people and the reds say they’re the party of the unions. The unions seem to be on the same side as the blues, yellows and greens?
JOHN BRACE: No because a lot of those involved with the unions to put it mildly dislike the blues.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Your whole political system makes no sense whatsoever!!!
JOHN BRACE: That’s “democracy” for you.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Don’t people get frustrated having to live under such a system?
JOHN BRACE: Yes which is why they get a vote.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And what does a vote do?
JOHN BRACE: It allows people to pick the politicians out of the reds, blues, greens, yellows, purples et cetera.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So if your political system is as it is it’s the public who are to blame?
JOHN BRACE: Well no, our system ignores a majority of their votes. Let’s give an example. This year in Pensby and Thingwall 4,086 people voted.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: OK.
JOHN BRACE: Roughly one in three of those voted for the red party, the rest (two in three) voted for someone else.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So someone else won?
JOHN BRACE: No the red party won, although most people voted for someone else.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So you’re saying the red party is now in charge making the decisions, even though most people who voted in Pensby & Thingwall didn’t want them in charge?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So your voting system means you ignore the wishes of most people and then just pick someone that most people don’t want?
JOHN BRACE: Sometimes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well doesn’t that mean whoever is in charge is unpopular?
JOHN BRACE: Well that’s the weird thing about our political system, since the red party have been in charge, they’ve become slightly more popular with the public.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well according to what you just told me they weren’t very popular to start with!
JOHN BRACE: Indeed, but if you look at that election I just mentioned it was between a red and a former red that had switched to the blues. The reds really really did not want their former colleague to win.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So the public were asked to vote to choose between a red and a former red who is now a blue!
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So let’s get this straight, the reds are in charge not because they’re terribly popular but because of your voting system.
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And most people don’t vote or when they do vote often their vote doesn’t count (which is why they often choose not to vote)?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And that’s called democracy?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But the children of Lyndale are not allowed to vote?
JOHN BRACE: No.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why not?
JOHN BRACE: I don’t make the rules here.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So Lyndale School can be closed by a bunch of red politicians that most people never voted for and in some places a majority don’t want, that claim to be the party of the unions (who are against the idea), claim to the party of the people (who are also against the idea) and the ones who will be affected (the children) don’t even get a say in whether the politicians are red, blue, yellow, green (or something else) this year?
JOHN BRACE: You left out the bit about the reds blaming it all on the blues and the yellows.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Oh yes, the red politicians say they don’t have any money because of the blues and the yellows, but the blues and the yellows say well that’s the reds’ fault but they’ve given the reds more money anyway?
JOHN BRACE: As usual it is more complicated than that.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And you call that “democracy”, sounds like disorganised chaos!
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A Martian tries to understand the incredible Lyndale School situation
A Martian tries to understand the incredible Lyndale School situation
Marvin the Martian from Disney’s Looney Tunes
The below is a fictional interview with Marvin the Martian about Lyndale School. Marvin the Martian is trademarked to Warner Brothers Entertainment. Our legal team point out their trademark doesn’t actually cover its use on blogs but in case they try to argue this blog is an “entertainment service”, it isn’t, so no laughing! Yes I mean it, not even a smile! We also point out it’s not an infringing use of class 9 of this trademark as that refers to its use on goods rather than virtually.
JOHN BRACE: Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed about Lyndale School.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: You’re welcome. We have watched your news broadcasts about this school and are frankly confused. Back on Mars we would be asking our politicians to resign if they behaved as yours do. Why do your politicians think they can get away with being like this?
JOHN BRACE: Well they don’t operate under Martian law for a start. British law gives them wide latitude to do what they like within reason.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well our politicians always tell us they’re on the side of the people, how come yours aren’t?
JOHN BRACE: Well that’s difficult to say. The yellow, blue and green politicians have said they are. The red ones are being careful not to express an opinion.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: “Not to express an opinion”! If we had politicians like that it would spark a revolution!
JOHN BRACE: We’re too polite for revolutions here, the most the British tend to do if they’re cross is write a grumpy letter.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Does that work?
JOHN BRACE: Sometimes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So getting back to Lyndale, can you explain it simply in terms we can understand?
JOHN BRACE: If someone could they would have. Money is taken off the people in the form of taxes. These taxes are then used for services such as education and schools such as Lyndale.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Yes, we have schools for our young Martians too.
JOHN BRACE: The politicians decide how the money is spent and what on. They’ve decided to spend it on Lyndale this year, but have yet to make their minds up about next year.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So what’s changed?
JOHN BRACE: Well, there’s been a consultation about closing the school. This is because of lack of money, but everyone’s also been told it won’t save any money and could in fact cost more.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: That sounds very confusing.
JOHN BRACE: It is. The other reason given is that the school is small.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What’s the problem with small schools then?
JOHN BRACE: Seems the bureaucrats don’t like them. More schools means more problems for them.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So this is being done to suit the bureaucrats?
JOHN BRACE: Well no, the politicians decided on this.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why?
JOHN BRACE: Because the bureaucrats told them too.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: These bureaucrats sound like they have more power than the politicians.
JOHN BRACE: Well we’ll leave that discussion for another day. The bureaucrats blame it on the government.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What’s “the government”?
JOHN BRACE: Another set of politicians.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So let’s recap, one set of politicians “the government” is used as a reason by the bureaucrats to persuade another set of politicians to close the school?
JOHN BRACE: Almost right, but “the government” deny that they want to close the school.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: I’m confused again.
JOHN BRACE: So am I.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Wouldn’t it be easier if we just invaded Wallasey Town Hall and promised not to close the school?
JOHN BRACE: Maybe it would, but sadly as you’re a fictional character it won’t happen.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: A shame, I was looking forward to invading your planet. So going back to Lyndale, apart from confusing arguments about money and its small size is there any other unstated reason why they want to shut it?
JOHN BRACE: Well the person in charge of special educational needs left and a new guy came in. Some people don’t like him.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why don’t they like him?
JOHN BRACE: For a wide variety of reasons I won’t go into because it’ll probably lead to another libel threat.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What’s that?
JOHN BRACE: Where Wirral Council threaten to sue you for telling the public the truth.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Can they do that?
JOHN BRACE: No they can’t, our laws don’t allow it but sometimes they get a little cheesed off with me.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why would they have issues with someone telling the truth about them?
JOHN BRACE: Because they have been known in the past not to tell the truth, if the public hears two mutually contradictory versions of the same thing they tend to assume Wirral Council is lying.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So why would they lie?
JOHN BRACE: The less the public know about what goes on, the easier it is for them to do things. If the public do find out they can get quite grumpy and ask the politicians to do something about it.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Ahh, so the public have been asking the politicians to do something about Lyndale?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So if the red politicians are so gung-ho about closure that must mean lots of people have asked them to close it?
JOHN BRACE: No, quite the opposite the majority of people have told the red politicians not to close it.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: I’m confused again, I thought the politicians were supposed to be on the side of the people.
JOHN BRACE: Well you’d hope so, but not always. Generally the public don’t get a say in political decision-making, it all gets carved up by the establishment.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And who or what are the “establishment”?
JOHN BRACE: People with the connections to make sure the decision-making always goes their way.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Wow, they sound very powerful.!
JOHN BRACE: They are.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So why don’t the “establishment” just listen to the people?
JOHN BRACE: Well in public they say they do, in private things are a little more complex. Sometimes different sections of the public ask for two completely different things.
MARVIN THE MARTIN: So they have to use their own judgement on matters?
JOHN BRACE: Yes, but getting back to Lyndale.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Ahh yes Lyndale. You have red, green, blue and yellow politicians who individually don’t seem to understand the “big picture”.
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And who all say they’re on the side of the public?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: The green, blue and yellow politicians all say they’ll do their best with Lyndale knowing it’s only the red politicians that will decide?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: The red politicians are doing this because the bureaucrats told them that they’d have to because of a different set of blue and yellow (but not green) politicians?
JOHN BRACE: Sort of.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But it’s not about money.
JOHN BRACE: Different answers have been given to that one.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So what is it really about?
JOHN BRACE: Well the school is for disabled children, some of whom thankfully have a sense of humour and laugh at all this.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Good for them, but it’s no “laughing matter”?
JOHN BRACE: You got it it’s a very serious matter.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So why don’t they just let the children decide?
JOHN BRACE: It’s a novel suggestion, but the red politicians wouldn’t allow it no.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Is there another reason why the red politicians could be doing it this way?
JOHN BRACE: Well another red politician called Alison is in a battle with the blues to carry on as a politician.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So is she on the side of the reds or the people?
JOHN BRACE: She would say both. However it would be breaking the rules to use such issues for party political gain.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But that could explain why the red politicians are keeping quiet?
JOHN BRACE: The red politicians just do what they’re told.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: By who?
JOHN BRACE: The red leader and the Cabinet Member.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why?
JOHN BRACE: Because if they didn’t, they’d be causing trouble and nobody wants to be seen to rock the boat.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So they have to vote for something they may not personally agree with?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Sounds strange, I thought they were supposed to represent the people.
JOHN BRACE: At election time yes, but they also represent their party too.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So what will happen about Lyndale?
JOHN BRACE: A solution will have to be found that means the red politicians save face.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What does that mean?
JOHN BRACE: Well they will need to both blame what’s happened on someone (something they’ve had a lot of practice doing) and come out of it smelling like roses.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But the public think something stinks?
JOHN BRACE: Yes they do, but as I said before the public aren’t the establishment.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: I see, so it’s terribly complicated isn’t it? The blue, green and yellow politicians can say what they like because they don’t make the decisions. The red politicians do make the decision but won’t talk. The bureaucrats have told the red politicians it’s all the blue and yellow politicians’ (but not green politicians’) fault. The shadowy “establishment” always gets its own way and basically the wishes of the children, staff, public are pushed to one side and politely ignored?
JOHN BRACE: In a nutshell, but it’s a little more complicated than that. There’s also a group called the media or press that is powerful too.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Ahh, you haven’t mentioned them yet!
JOHN BRACE: Well I’m part of them so I have. The broadcast (TV), print (newspaper), online (blogs) have all decided to side with the school.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why’s that?
JOHN BRACE: Well the media don’t have to give reasons, but they think the politicians are being unfair by picking on people that can’t stick up for themselves.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But they are!
JOHN BRACE: That’s a matter of opinion.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Only a coward would pick on someone that couldn’t fight back.
JOHN BRACE: Indeed. However the media are powerful because they influence how people think.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Ahh, including the politicians, the establishment, the bureaucrats and the people.
JOHN BRACE: Yes, however there are wider international considerations too. Nobody wants another war.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why would picking on disabled kids and closing a school start a war?
JOHN BRACE: On its own no, but pandering to society’s prejudices towards the disabled, coupled with the purple party talking about immigration and other factors could.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Ahh there’s a purple party too!
JOHN BRACE: Yes but they really don’t feature in this tale. They have politicians at the European level but not national or local.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Good as we’re starting to run out of colours.
JOHN BRACE: As I was saying, the fragmentation of society by playing off people against each other and scapegoating minorities leads eventually to war.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Oh dear. Has that happened before?
JOHN BRACE: Yes. Many times which is why measures were put in place to prevent things getting to that stage.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So will these “measures” prevent Lyndale being closed?
JOHN BRACE: Who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Labour councillors blame government for strikes in 1st ever film of a Merseyside Fire Authority meeting
Labour councillors blame government for strikes in 1st ever film of a Merseyside Fire Authority meeting
Merseyside Fire and Rescue crew in James Street, Liverpool 2nd September 2014
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I attended (and filmed) a public meeting of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority’s Consultation and Negotiation Sub-Committee yesterday afternoon. Since last visiting Merseyside Fire and Rescue Headquarters quite a while ago, the whole building has been rebuilt.
We arrived about half an hour before the meeting started and were asked to wait in reception. After about fifteen minutes (we had been told they were “running late” although the meeting started on time) someone came and took us to the meeting which was being held in the Temporary Conference Room on the first floor.
Thankfully there was a working lift which we used. The room had been set up up for the councillors on the Sub-Committee, fire officers and union representatives from unions such as the Fire Brigades Union. Microphones for everyone (with built-in speakers) were set out and tested before the meeting started.
Someone was even kind enough to put one of the speakers behind us so we could hear what was being said. Unlike Wirral Council there was no tea and coffee machine in the room drowning out what was said, but jugs of water and glasses were put out.
I informed someone of my intention to film the upcoming meeting and referred to the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014. In my opinion in response she looked rather crestfallen and left the room in a hurry (maybe to tell someone else).
During the meeting, due to everyone having a microphone (maybe Wirral Council prefers councillors to share as that way they can give the public the impression they’re too skint to afford a microphone for each councillor), there was none of the usual requests you get at Wirral Council public meetings from councillors to repeat what’s just been said as everybody could hear what was going on. In fact playing back the video of the meeting, the sound quality (often a complaint when I record meetings at Wirral Council whether they have microphones or not) was much, much improved.
Due to a current technical fault with one of the SD cards (I do have a backup card but it was impossible for me to predict at the start how long the meeting would last), I didn’t film in HD (which I would’ve preferred to do as that would have been broadcast quality) but instead in VGA. Apologies for the black boxes on the video, this was down to using the usual compression codec I use for HD which has a slightly different aspect ratio.
As having the tripod in front of me would’ve blocked a passageway and I didn’t want to argue about the interpretation of fire regulations with a bunch of fire officers, I put the tripod instead to the side which meant I did less panning and zooming than usual.
Before the meeting itself, I enquired about the West Kirby/Upton fire station plans and was told that a consultation with the public on that issue would be starting soon.
The agenda and reports are on the Mersey Fire and Rescue Authority website if you’re interested in reading them. As you are probably aware, there have been a number of days recently when fire officers have been on strike and anyone passing the new fire station in Birkenhead on those days will have seen the Fire Brigades Union picket.
The Chief Fire Officer, Dan Stephens did most of the talking at the meeting. His report gave an update on the weekly meetings with unions and a summary of progress on the issues.
There was currently a dispute with the Fire Brigades Union which would be going to a conciliation hearing on the 10th November, once the outcome of this was known he would report back to councillors and the committee.
He apologised for using MACC in an email and said it was “not a mistake he would be making again”. Referring to the civil disturbances in 2011, he considered that these had been managed on Merseyside more effectively than in other parts of the country due to excellent interagency work with the Merseyside Police on Operation Derwent.
However the command and control on the seventh floor of the police headquarters was “no longer fit for purpose”. He went into detail about a decision of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority to engage with Merseyside Police on the Merseyside Joint Command and Control Centre in which both organisations would work along with the North West Ambulance Service.
The Joint Command Centre had gone live in early July and he went into detail about the shift patterns outlined in paragraphs nine to fourteen. He wanted to highlight the “outstanding achievement” to have “got to this point” but that the Merseyside Police were training their call handlers and he went into some of the differences as to how Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service deal with emergency calls.
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The Chair, Cllr Jimmy Mahon (Labour, Sefton) gave his congratulations to the Chief Fire Officer and said there had been the concern that in order to work properly the Control Centre should be in Merseyside.
The Chief Fire Officer continued with talking about the arrangements that they’d put in place for when fire officers were on strike in a dispute over pension reform. He made it clear that it wasn’t a localised dispute on Merseyside, but a national dispute between the Fire Brigades Union and the government over which Mersey Fire and Rescue Authority didn’t have any real influence over which had been the subject of previous reports.
He wanted the dispute itself “resolved as quickly as possible” and commended the FBU as they took a “responsible approach” on Merseyside and also gave them his thanks. Moving on to the collective agreement with the Fire Brigades Union and Fire Officers Association over twenty-four working, there was one location in Croxteth where it was allowed to due to an “operational rationale”. He went into some detail about how twenty-four hour working freed up rota days and other impacts of it.
Referring to the “acute pressure” of “financial challenges” he said that it wouldn’t get easier in 2015/16 and the final two paragraphs of his report were about an independent review of conditions of service. In his opinion the questionnaire contained loaded questions and it had been a Fire Brigade Union recommendation that they shouldn’t take part in the survey. He put on record that he couldn’t be a stronger advocate of the whole time duty system and that he would take questions on his report.
Two trade union representatives replied and also referred to the national issues, challenges, how they were never going to agree to everytying but the Fire Brigade Union representative felt that things were going forward and that both sides were pragmatic. The FBU representative said that they’d used all procedures, asked for external assistance and hopefully both sides had an open mind.
Councillor Leslie T Byrom (Labour, Sefton) made comments about the Ken Knight review and the government’s response to it, as well as a related resolution at the LGA Conference.
He used the analogy of a teenager only being able to afford the cheapest insurance for their first car, but gradually moving up to comprehensive insurance. In his opinion Merseyside had the equivalent of comprehensive insurance in its fire cover. The councillor didn’t want to revert to an inferior service. He referred to the recent terrorism alert change and how fully staffed authorities “can send boots on the ground” but that they had to lobby hard to explain the advantages.
Cllr Linda Maloney (Labour, St Helens) said that she had asked the St Helens’ Human Resources officer for advice on the redundancies issue. The advice she had received was that Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service was being very lenient compared to other councils in making people redundant. She wanted to put on record the work they did keeping full-time firefighters and engines to keep Merseyside safe.
Cllr Tony Robertson (Lib Dems, Sefton) asked a question about the questionnaire. The Chief Fire Officer replied that it had to be returned by the 19th September, but that their submission would be reported back.
There weren’t any meetings of a committee to formally approve it before the deadline, but said that if he was being cynical he’d have taken the view that it was almost a response to the Fire Brigades Union strike action, however he was conscious he was being filmed so was a little circumspect.
Cllr Tony Robertson said that he understood.
Cllr Roy Gladden (Labour, Liverpool City Council) referred to if they wanted to get the person they wanted in a position, they they just needed to sort out the shortlist in relation to the questionnaire. He felt other parts of the country didn’t need full-time firefighters and referred to Devon and Cornwall. The independence vote in Scotland was also referred to and also discussions across the country where they were fed up with being told what’s best for them in that part of the country.
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No matter what happened on the 18th September he felt they should be demanding a better say in what happened regionally and locally and no matter what government there was he wanted the power base lowered so that Merseyside would decide what’s best for them. As elected representatives they could come to the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority and disagree and he would be very surprised to be in a situation where they all agreed on everything as “one of us” would be “out of order”. The unions would at times disagree fundamentally with the way forward. However he wanted to make clear this was a national strike and that the government was using finance to look at the service.
The Chair, Cllr Jimmy Mahon (Labour, Sefton) agreed.
Cllr Roy Gladden (Labour, Liverpool City Council) then said the following:
“Just one quick thing which I think you mentioned before, we’ve got cameras. Are we going to be writing to Mr. Pickles asking him if we can have a makeup room before we go out? *laughter* I’m a bit concerned that it’s err, you know splashed across the national and worldwide media and at least I want to get me hair dyed and me makeup on so I don’t look horrible. Well I’m just making sure, I hope Mr. Pickles wouldn’t mind as he’s insistent upon this that we have our makeup room in future.
Having been at the BBC, I mean it really isn’t like that, I might not come along if I haven’t had my hair done. So I just hope in the future, we’ll put it down Chair. Some of us don’t need our hair cutting.”
Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens said, “Just two things Chair, I thank Councillor Gladden for his last comment and second justly to reassure Councillor Gladden that he looks as devilish as ever..”
Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens said, “What I would say is, I could use this opportunity to my Ice Bucket Challenge, I nominated Eric Pickles, unfortunately he’s not yet responded to the challenge I’ve put down to him so maybe this is my opportunity to reinvigorate that challenge to him and I shall leave that at the behest of our guests further to the meeting to give some thought as to whether they would like to send that through to him and I will pause at that point Chair having committed career suicide.”
The Chair asked, “Can we have a copy?” to which I replied “ok”. He replied, “It will be interesting to have a look at to see how we’re mentioned. That’s the end of the meeting.”
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Councillors discuss schools, free school meals and 4 Wirral schools in special measures
Councillors discuss schools, free school meals and 4 Wirral schools in special measures
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Last night’s meeting of Wirral Council’s Attainment sub-committee started off well enough. Before the hour of six o’clock had even been reached, Cllr Moira McLaughlin was chomping at the bit to be made Chair. As there was only one Conservative councillor present and many, many Labour councillors, it was hardly likely she wouldn’t become Chair.
The Labour councillors then agreed to Cllr Wendy Clements being Vice-Chair.
The Chair, Cllr Moira McLaughlin pointed out that Cllr Alan Brighouse wasn’t present, but decided to continue the meeting anyway. To be perfectly honest I’m glad as if every meeting waited until Cllr Alan Brighouse was present things would never start on time as like another councillor he has a reputation for poor timekeeping.
Apologies were given for Julia Hassall who would be late. Declarations of interest were given as some councillors were school governors.
The minutes were agreed. The Chair said that the main thrust of the meeting would be a presentation from Deborah Gornik (who wasn’t there). The Chair was informed that Deborah Gornik would also be late as she (and presumably Julia Hassall) were “at another meeting”. Were they meeting each other? What was this other meeting about? Who knows?
The one officer (apart from the one taking the minutes) that had turned up on time, Sue Talbot gave her report on standards (which is not often a word you hear at public meetings of Wirral Council).
However this was about standards of education for at the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 level, with a focus on raising standards and what happened to the education of those in local authority care (adopted or fostered). The phrase “good news story” was repeated by Sue Talbot many times.
Cllr Alan Brighouse was the first to speak and used words like “pretty fantastic improvement” followed up by a question about falls in numbers of children eligible for free school meals. The answer given was that the eligible benefits for people for apply for free school meals had changed which partly explained the drop and in answer to a further question that the officer preferred to use numbers of children rather than percentages.
The Lib Dem spokesperson (as the only Lib Dem he’s therefore the spokesperson) continued to talk about primary schools becoming academies (at this point I wondered if he was going to explicitly mention Lyndale). Sue replied that Wirral Council still had legal duties towards academies and mentioned the academy representatives on the Wirral Schools Forum and Sue went on to say the good relationship that Wirral Council has with primary schools (which if you’ve been following the Lyndale story is a matter of opinion).
Cllr Wendy Clements then asked about floor targets, the officer replied that no schools triggered all four triggers but they had banded schools (sound familiar?) and there were four schools in band four… followed up by her favourite phrase again “good news story”. Cllr Clements asked a follow up question and the answer given was that they were keen to track children who come out of care but admitted that sometimes they don’t keep an eye on those children.
Cllr Moira McLaughlin asked a question about whether children subject to care orders were monitored. The officer replied not yet, but said that once the virtual headteacher role was shared that id would help. Cllr Walter Smith asked about intervention strategies. Sue Talbot gave a detailed reply going into detail about how two of her team concentrated on early years, one on english and one on maths. She said that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate had highlighted a problem they had with British working class boys and went into detail as to what her team does.
Cllr Walter Smith asked if nursery provision had any effect on children going into primary school. The answer given was yes as long as it was good quality. Cllr Tony Norbury referred to his work as a school governor and asked how the changes to school meals in primary schools would affect free school meals? The officer answered that schools were proactive at doing this as it led to additional funding through the pupil premium for them. Cllr Tony Norbury asked two follow up questions, to which the answers were “too early to tell” and “pupil’s circumstances change”.
Cllr Phillip Brightmore asked about free school meals too. The answer given was that how they encouraged people from September could be different as all infants would get free school meals. The councillor referred to the table and referred to the Wirral West figures. Sue Talbot referred to “pockets of deprivation” in Wirral West in her answer. He then brought up the results for Pensby High. Sue Talbot said that the results might change as the school had sent the whole cohort back for remarking therefore the figures were provisional.
Cllr Tony Norbury asked about English as a second language and the strategies there. Sue Talbot referred to the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service and how they need to support schools, however kids with English as a second language seemed to be better at phonics that people who had English as their mother tongue. She referred to Polish teaching assistants and Urdu speakers.
The Chair Cllr Moira McLaughlin moved the meeting to item 8 (OFSTED reports). Sue Talbot gave a brief introduction and talked about the four schools that were being monitored by OFSTED due to previously poor inspections. One was becoming an academy so would not be in special measures due to this as special measures status disappeared when a school became an academy.
Cllr Phillip Brightmore pointed out that such things “doesn’t help the kids”. Cllr Wendy Clements referred to a “clean start” followed by a comment by Cllr Alan Brighouse.
The officer explained that new academies were given twelve months to become established. A further inspection could happen any time after twelve months. There was an academy planned to start on the 1st September, but it hadn’t happened but the school had changed its name to Kingsway Academy. The delay had been caused due to complexities caused by the PFI contract.
At this point nearly half an hour into the meeting (at agenda item 8 out of 9), the Director of Children’s Services Julia Hassall and Deborah Gornik arrived.
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