Banned video on Lyndale School restored to Youtube; Wirral Council still prevents filming at 2 public meetings

Banned video on Lyndale School restored to Youtube; Wirral Council still prevents filming at 2 public meetings

Banned video on Lyndale School restored to Youtube; Wirral Council still prevents filming at 2 public meetings

                                                

Councillor Tony Smith at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith, Cllr Bernie Mooney, Lyndzay Roberts
Councillor Tony Smith at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith, Cllr Bernie Mooney, Lyndzay Roberts that Sony prevented being watch on Youtube until now.

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Ed – Updated 11:58 14/11/2014 to include additional information.

Well the above Youtube video of the Cabinet meeting of the 4th September 2014 (previously blocked by Youtube in Germany and unavailable for anyone to view for the last fortnight because of Sony) can now be viewed.

Sony Music Entertainment haven’t sued me, so the video has to go back. My arcane knowledge of the counter notification provision to a DMCA takedown notice in the American Digital Millenium Copyright Act paid off.

The issue was to do with the use of the music track “We bought a Zoo” [2011] by Icelandic musician Jónsi.

It means the 15 minute restriction on videos, restrictions on live broadcasts is no lifted on the main Youtube channel I use. Also the account is returned to good standing.

However in future at a public meeting, even though I can justify fair use on the grounds of news reporting, to prevent the making of false allegations of copyright infringement and this happening again, I have decided not to film videos shown during public meetings (obviously there may be exceptions to this general rule).

With regards to the Lyndale School video, the fact that Jónsi is blind adds another interesting element to the Lyndale story.

It’s not however just Sony Music Entertainment that have tried to prevent footage of Wirral Council’s public meetings being shown. Wirral Council tried it at a call in earlier this year in February (about Lyndale).

Also at a recent meeting of the Youth and Play Service Advisory Committee on the 28th October and the Youth Parliament on 11th November Wirral Council were adamant that for child protection reasons these public meetings couldn’t be filmed.

This was because at the meeting on the 28th there was a 16-year-old present and at the meeting on the 11th November, there were 11-18 year olds present in addition to councillors.

Strangely enough on that very topic the Youth Parliament, the BBC are filming (and showing on BBC Parliament today) from 11.10am-12.40pm and 1.40pm onwards the Youth Parliament debating in the House of Commons.

In fact here is a quote from one UK Youth Parliament member Ciara Brodie from Liverpool (who will be leading a debate):

“Friday 14th November will be an incredible day, not only for those sitting in the chamber, but for young people across the country. This is the day when hundreds of Members of Youth Parliament will take to the green benches of the House of Commons and debate on the issues that are most important to us. These five issues have been decided by a nationwide ballot taken part in by over 865,000 11-18 year olds. This day will be symbolic, because young people often feel excluded from politics, and like their voices are neither acknowledged nor represented in Parliament. This sitting is an incredible opportunity to engage young people from across the UK in political debate, just months before a General Election. With educational reform a hot topic and 16 and 17 year olds voting in the Scottish Referendum, there has never been a more important time to listen to young people. It is one thing to be given a voice but hopefully, as a result of this debate, young people will also be listened to. This is our chance to make our mark in the heart of Westminster.”

Here is what a Youth Parliament document states about the filming today:

Television coverage

The debates will all be filmed. BBC Parliament will be broadcasting the debates live with a five minute time delay.
The debates will also be streamed “live” with a time delay directly to the newsrooms of the BBC, Sky, etc – so that broadcasters may use the footage that day if they want to.

It is very important that during the debates MYPs don’t say anything that is factually incorrect (i.e. slanderous), don’t swear and are careful not to damage the reputation of Parliament (e.g. call MPs liars!). We will be taking legal advice on anything that could be considered slanderous and any such statements will have to be removed.
The microphones and cameras will be on in the Chamber at all times.”

Coverage of the morning session will be broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel today (14th November 2014) starting at 8.20pm.
Coverage of the afternoon session will be broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel today (14th November 2014) starting at 9.50pm.

Coverage of the morning session will be available on BBC Iplayer at this link (1h30m).
Coverage of the afternoon session will be available on BBC Iplayer at this link (2h10m) .

That’s a total of 3h40m of footage.

The problem however is despite the House of Commons changing the law at Wirral Council, the officer/councillor requests to ban filming the public meeting of Wirral Council of the Youth Parliament earlier this week, especially as the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 meant that from August 6th 2014 Wirral Council could no longer ban any filming at its public meetings, just looks somewhat slightly silly now, old-fashioned, possibly unlawful when the BBC are filming the Youth Parliament in the House of Commons at a public meeting to a much wider audience?

Maybe Wirral Council’s child protection policy will prevent its UK Youth Parliament members (aged between 11-18) actually being involved at all in London at the House of Commons today (which if it does that’s a shame). Mind you under their “child protection policy” the public & press have been told in the past aren’t even allowed to know even the names of who from Wirral represents the views of young people on the Youth Parliament!

In Wirral of course, with full approval from Wirral Council’s Cabinet, children’s voices are not to be heard outside of meeting rooms at public meetings on political issues. The reason given is because “they’re children” and of course Wirral isn’t known to as the “insular peninsula” for no reason. It’s however really part of a wider cultural attitude against openness and transparency and of trying to control the press.

Wirral will probably also say its for safeguarding reasons, however I would say the effect of broadcasting on national TV, online and through other broadcasters is likely to reach a much wider audience than probably the fifty or sixty views there would have been of the Youth Parliament meeting at Wirral Council.

What have Wirral Council actually got to hide when it comes to teenagers? Do they just so ever conveniently forget at time they get £millions of public money to spend on their education?

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Coordinating Committee meets to discuss Early Years/Childrens Centre call in for 2nd time Part 1

Coordinating Committee meets to discuss Early Years/Childrens Centre call in for 2nd time Part 1

Coordinating Committee meets to discuss Early Years/Childrens Centre call in for 2nd time

                           

Coordinating Committee 12th November 2014 Childrens Centre call in L to R Shirley Hudspeth,  Surjit Tour, Cllr Moira McLaughlin (Chair) &  Michelle
Coordinating Committee 12th November 2014 Childrens Centre call in L to R Shirley Hudspeth, Surjit Tour, Cllr Moira McLaughlin (Chair) & Michelle

Ed – 13/11/2014 Added video of first twenty-five minutes of meeting.

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Above is footage from the start of the Coordinating Committee meeting who met in Committee Room 1 at Wallasey Town Hall on the evening of 12th November 2014 (the first 25 minutes) to discuss the Early Years/Children Centres call in.

On 12th November 2014 starting at 6.00pm in a packed Committee Room 1 (standing room only for some) at Wallasey Town Hall the Coordinating Committee met to consider the call in of the Cabinet decision of 11th September 2014 (Early Years and Children’s Centres).

The Coordinating Committee had already met on the 15th October 2014 at 5.00pm for eight and half minutes to consider the same call in. That earlier meeting had decided (video of that earlier meeting is below the decision of the meeting on the 15th October 2014):

(1) the meeting stand adjourned until 6pm on Wednesday, 12 November 2014 in Committee Room 1 of Wallasey Town Hall;

(2) the Call-in Procedure be revised to enable:

(a) a witness to a called in decision, who attends the meeting, to have the option of reading out any prepared written statements to the Committee (within a timescale not to exceed five minutes); and

(b) the relevant Cabinet Member and the Lead Member to the call-in to be questioned by the Committee, once they have made their opening statements;

(3) the revised Call-in Procedure note be presented to the Committee at its reconvened meeting on 12 November 2014 for adoption.

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So, moving on to the meeting of the 12th November 2014 under the revised Call-in Procedure.

Unfortunately the revised Call-in Procedure agreed on the 15th October 2014 for the meeting on the 12th November 2014 wasn’t included in the agenda and reports published a week before the meeting on 12th November 2014.

However the meeting started with item 1 (Apologies for Absence).

1. Apologies for Absence

There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Anita Leech (Labour). Deputy Cllr Rob Gregson (Labour) was sent in her place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Andrew Hodson (Conservative). Deputy Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative) was sent in his place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Wendy Clements (Conservative). Deputy Cllr Chris Blakeley (Conservative) was sent in her place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Mike Hornby (Conservative). Deputy Cllr David Elderton (Conservative) was sent in his place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Christina Muspratt (Labour). Deputy Cllr Irene Williams (Labour) was sent in her place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Steve Williams (Conservative). Deputy Cllr Bruce Berry (Conservative) was sent in his place.

This meant the Coordinating Committee on 12th November was was:

Councillor Moira McLaughlin Chair (Labour)
Councillor Paul Doughty Vice-Chair (Labour)
Councillor Phillip Brightmore (Labour)
Councillor Rob Gregson (Labour) deputising for Councillor Anita Leech (Labour)
Councillor Irene Williams (Labour) deputising for Councillor Christina Muspratt (Labour)
Councillor Walter Smith (Labour)
Councillor Michael Sullivan (Labour)
Councillor Jerry Williams (Labour)
Councillor Janette Williamson (Labour)
Councillor Leah Fraser (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Andrew Hodson (Conservative Spokesperson)
Councillor Tom Anderson (Conservative)
Councillor Chris Blakeley (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Wendy Clements (Conservative)
Councillor David Elderton (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Mike Hornby (Conservative)
Councillor Bruce Berry (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Steve Williams (Conservative)
Councillor Phil Gilchrist (Liberal Democrat spokesperson)

Councillor Chris Blakeley asked the Chair Cllr Moira McLaughlin why Cllr Anita Leech had sent a deputy when she was present in the room the meeting was being held in? The Chair said she was in the audience and that one of the reasons that Cllr Anita Leech had absented herself from the process was because Cllr Anita Leech was on the board of one of the Children’s Centres. Cllr Moira McLaughlin explained that Cllr Anita Leech didn’t have to declare this as an interest as she had sent a deputy [Cllr Rob Gregson] in her place on the Coordinating Committee.

The meeting then moved to agenda item 2 (Code of Conduct – Declarations of Interest Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, Including Party Whip Declarations).

Cllr Tom Anderson (Conservative) declared a personal interest as a signatory to the call in and also a director of a community centre.
Cllr Bruce Berry (Conservative) declared a personal interest as a signatory to the call in.
Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative) asked if she had to make a personal interest as a signatory to the call in.
The Chair answered no. Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative) declared a personal interest as a signatory to the call in.
Cllr Tony Smith (Labour Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) declared an interest as a director of a nursery.
The Chair said that Surjit Tour had told her that as Cllr Tony Smith wasn’t part of the Coordinating Committee he didn’t need to declare such interests.
The Chair asked if anyone was subject to the party whip? No one replied that they were.

The meeting proceeded to agenda item 3 (Call-in of a Delegated Decision – Minute No. 54 – Early Years and Children’s Centres).

The Chair explained that the Coordinating Committee were to re-examine a decision by the Executive [Cabinet] as it had been formally challenged by councillors through a procedure known as call in. The decision was made on 11th September and was about Early Years and Childrens Centres. The decision had asked for a 6 week public consultation and the signatories to the call in had raised four points. She asked people to introduce themselves. She introduced herself as Cllr Moira McLaughlin who was Chair of the Coordinating Committee.

Here is a list of the others who introduced themselves (* indicates member of the Coordinating Committee):

Surjit Tour (legal adviser to the Coordinating Committee, Wirral Council employee)
Shirley Hudspeth (committee services officer taking the minutes of the meeting, Wirral Council employee)
*Cllr Tom Anderson (Conservative)
*Cllr Bruce Berry (Conservative)
*Cllr Chris Blakeley (Conservative)
*Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative spokesperson)
*Cllr David Elderton (Conservative)
*Cllr Phil Gilchrist (Lib Dem spokesperson)
*Cllr Jerry Williams (Labour)
*Cllr Irene Williams (Labour)
*Cllr Mike Sullivan (Labour)
*Cllr Phillip Brightmore (Labour)
*Cllr Rob Gregson (Labour)
*Cllr Walter Smith (Labour)
*Cllr Paul Doughty (Labour, Vice-Chair)
*Cllr Janette Williamson (Labour)
Michelle ??? (support to the committee, Wirral Council employee)

To be continued…

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The first 17 pages of Wirral Council's contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited

The first 17 pages of Wirral Council’s contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited

The first 17 pages of Wirral Council’s contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited

                           

Edited 13/11/2014 to correct “Wirral School Services Limited” to “Wirral Schools Services Limited”.

Below is the first 17 A4 pages of Wirral Council’s contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited. I requested it as part of the 2013/14 audit. Sadly it’s so long I’ll probably just have to scan the rest of it in or OCR it.

There are a further 114 pages in this section.

Private & Confidential

Dated 9th September 2004

WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL (1)
WIRRAL SCHOOLS SERVICES LIMITED (2)

===================================================================================================================
DEED OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT relating to Wirral Schools PFI Project
===================================================================================================================

ADDLESHAW GODDARD

Contents
Clause Page

1 Interpretation ......................................... 1
2 Effective Date ......................................... 1
3 Amendment and restatement .............................. 2
4 Confirmation ........................................... 2
5 Variations, amendments and payments .................... 2
6 Release by the Authority ............................... 4
7 Release by Project Co .................................. 4
8 Governing law and dispute resolution ................... 4

Schedule

1. Conditions ............................................ 5
   Part 1 - Conditions to be satisfied by Project Co ..... 5
   Part 2 - Conditions to be satisfied by the Authority .. 6
2 Amendments to the Project Agreement .................... 7
3 Details of Variations referred to in clause 5.1 ........ 8
4 Schedule of Payments referred to in clause 5.2(b) ...... 9
5 Outstanding items ..................................... 10

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This Deed of Amendment and Restatement is made on the 9th day of September 2004

Between

(1) Wirral Borough Council of Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside CH44 8ED (Authority); and (signature)

(2) Wirral Schools Services Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with registered number 4115637 whose registered office is at Frogmore Park, Walton-at-Stowe, Hertford SG14 3RU (Project Co).

Whereas

(A) The Authority has appointed Project Co under an agreement dated 27 March 2001 (Project Agreement) to finance, design and construct and to provide certain services in respect of certain schools in Wirral.

(B) The Authority and Project Co have agreed to vary the Project Agreement in the manner hereinafter appearing and to agree certain variations to the Project as hereinafter described.

It is agreed

1 Interpretation

1.1 In this Deed, but save as provided for by clause 1.2, the following expressions shall bear the following meanings:

D&B Deed of Amendment and Restatement means a deed of that name (or about) the same date as this Deed between Project Co and the D&B Contractor amending and restating the D&B Contract

Effective Date means the date upon which the parties confirm to each other in writing pursuant to clause 2.1 that the conditions set out in schedule 1 have been satisfied or waived

Revised Base Case Financial Model means the revision of the Base Case Financial Model as at the Effective Date in the Agreed Form

Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement means:

(a) the D&B Deed of Amendment and Restatement; and
(b) the Support Services Deed of Amendment and Restatement

Support Services Deed of Amendment and Restatement means a deed of that name of (or about) the same date as this Deed between Project Co and the Support Services Manager amending and restating the Support Services Management Agreement

1.2 Unless stated to the contrary in this Deed, words and phrases used in this Deed with initial capital letters but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Project Agreement.

1.3 Unless stated to the contrary, references in this Deed to any clause or schedule or appendix are references to such clause or schedule or appendix of or to this Deed.

1.4 Words importing the single number only include the plural number and vice versa.

2 Effective Date

2.1 The provisions of clauses 3, 5 (save for the acknowledgements set out in clauses 5.2(b) and 5.2(d)), 6 and 7 shall have no effect unless and until:

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(a) the Authority shall have confirmed in writing to Project Co that all of the conditions set out in part 1 of schedule 1 shall have been satisfied or waived; and

(b) Project Co shall have confirmed in writing to the Authority that all of the conditions set out in part 2 of schedule 1 shall have been satisfied or waived.

2.2 Each of the Authority and Project Co shall use their respective best endeavours to procure that the conditions set out in clause 2.1 are satisfied as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Deed, provided always that, if the Effective Date has not occurred on or before 31 August 24 September 2004, either party shall be entitled to terminate this Deed at any time thereafter upon giving written notice to the other party. (signature)

2.3 Without prejudice to any antecedent breaches of this Deed, if either party terminates this Deed pursuant to clause 2.2 then the Authority shall be entitled to recover in full from Project Co within 5 Working Days of the date of receipt of any notice served pursuant to clause 2.2 the amounts paid by the Authority to Project Co in connection with this Deed prior to the date of termination as set out in clause 5.2 and neither party shall be entitled to bring any claim against the other party as a result of such termination.

2.4 The Authority shall, within 10 Working Days after the Effective Date, deliver to Project Co a duly executed certificate issued pursuant to the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997 in relation to this Deed.

2.5 Project Co shall procure the delivery by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (UK) Limited, within 10 Working Days after the Effective Date, of written confirmation of its consent to the D&B Deed of Amendment and Restatement and that the D&B Performance Bond and Retention Bond (in each case, as defined in the D&B Contract) remain effective.

3 Amendment and restatement

With effect from the Effective Date the Project Agreement shall be amended and restated so as to give effect to the amendments set out in schedule 2. The parties agree that the amendments to the Project Agreement and Schedules set out in schedule 2 constitute the only pages of the Project Agreement and Schedules where changes to the text have been agreed between the parties.

4 Confirmation

The parties confirm that the Project Agreement remains in full force and effect save as amended by this Deed.

5 Variations, amendments and payments

5.1 The parties agree that:

(a) as a result of the matters contained in or referred to in this Deed, namely the carrying out of works by Project Co (whether before or after the Effective Date):

(i) required to be undertaken for the removal of Asbestos at the Facilities within the period prior to the last Actual Date of Completion to occur; and

(ii) as a result of Variations instructed and/or requested in writing by the Authority pursuant to Clause 32 of the Project Agreement up to and including 7 June 2004,

the Design and Build Periods in respect of the Sites have been extended as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 3 to the Project Agreement (as amended and restated in accordance with this Deed); and

(b) without prejudice to the Authority’s entitlement to request Variations pursuant to the Project Agreement, Project Co shall carry out such variations to the Works as are nominated by the Authority in its discretion up to (but not exceeding) the value of

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£115,000 (unindexed) which variations Project Co shall carry out and complete at no cost to the Authority; and

(c) Project Co shall shall carry out and complete the Variations set out in schedule 3 to this Deed by the respective dates set out against each such Variation in schedule 3 (and, to avoid doubt, such Variations shall be carried out and completed at no additional cost to the Authority),

provided always that:

(i) the Authority shall be fully responsible for any planning or judicial review risk associated with the carrying out of any Variation referred to in this clause 5.1(c); and

(ii) the Authority shall be entitled to deduct liquidated and ascertained damages (LADs) from the Services Contract Payment at a rate of £55 per Variation for each day in excess of the relevant Completion Date for which any Variation as referred to in this clause 5.1(c) is not complete.

5.2

(a) The parties acknowledge and agree that there is a difference between the Services Contract Payment set out in Part 4 of Schedule 5 to the Project Agreement and the Services Contract Payment set out in the Base Case Financial Model. In order to rectify this difference and by way of full and final settlement of the costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by Project Co as a result of the implementation of variation works including the change in building design at Leasowe Primary and the implementation (whether before or after the Effective Date) of works to deal with Asbestos discovered in the Facilities within the period prior to the last Actual Date of Completion to occur (in accordance with Clause 16.4 of and Schedule 15 to the Project Agreement), the Authority has agreed to:

(i) change the Expiry Date to 31 July 2031 in order to enable Project Co to raise additional finance (provided always that the amount of principal taken into account in calculating Senior Debt (as shown in the Revised Base Case Financial Model) shall not increase by more than £3,000,000.00, compared with the amount of principal shown for the same date in the Base Case Financial Model, by reason of the raising of such additional finance); and

(ii) pay to Project Co the sum of £3,340,000.00, such sum to be paid in accordance with the remainder of this clause 5.2.

(b) The parties acknowledge that, of the sum referred to in clause 5.2(a)(ii), the sum of £1,800,000.00 has been paid by the Authority to Project Co (and Project Co acknowledges that it has received such amount from the Authority). The remaining sum of £1,540,000.00 shall be due and payable by the Authority to Project Co in the sums and on the dates set out in schedule 4.

(c) Project Co shall submit a valid VAT invoice to the Authority in respect of each of the amounts referred to in clause 5.2(b).

(d) Project Co acknowledges that it has received a payment of £1,186,618.10 (inclusive of VAT) from the Authority in relation to certain costs incurred by Project Co in removing Asbestos. The parties agree that a further sum of £35,000 (which represents the VAT element outstanding on a £200,000 payment on account made by the Authority) remains to be paid by the Authority to Project Co and that the Authority shall pay such amount to Project Co within 30 days of receipt of a valid VAT invoice in respect of the same.

(e) The parties agree to procure that Schedule 4 to the Project Agreement shall, not later than the last Actual Date of Completion to occur, be revised to reflect any changes to the drawings or accommodation schedules as may be necessary, whether arising

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pursuant to this Deed or otherwise, but provided always that any such revision shall not result in any increase to the Services Contract Payment as set out in the Base Case Financial Model.

(f) and (g) – please see continuation sheet overleaf (signature)

Outstanding items

5.3 In consideration of receipt of the amounts referred to in clause 5.2, Project Co shall carry out and complete the works set out in schedule 5 (“Outstanding Items“) and, to avoid doubt, Project Co shall not be entitled to any additional payment in respect of such works.

6 Release by the Authority

6.1 On and with effect from the Effective Date:

(a) the Authority irrevocably waives and releases to Project Co any claim or Losses it may have or which may have arisen consequent upon any breach or alleged breach of any obligation of Project Co contained in the Project Agreement arising prior to the Effective Date in connection with the matters referred to in clause 5.1(a) including without limitation in relation to the issue of any Non-Completion Certificate; and

(b) the Authority irrevocably and unconditionally provides its consent, insofar as such consent may be necessary or required to be given under the Project Agreement, to any matters contained in or referred to in this Deed.

7 Release by Project Co

7.1 On and with effect from the Effective Date Project Co irrevocably waives and releases to the Authority any claim or Losses it may have or which may have arisen consequent upon any breach or alleged breach of any obligation of the Authority contained in the Project Agreement arising prior to the Effective Date in connection with the matters referred to in clause 5.1(a) including without limitation to the issue of any Non-Completion Certificate. Without prejudice to the foregoing, Project Co acknowledges that:

(a) the amendment to the Expiry Date referred to in clause 5.2(a)(i);

(b) the payment of the financial amounts shown in clause 5.2; and

(c) the amendments made to the Schedule of Key Dates referred to in clause 5.1(a),

shall constitute Project Co’s sole compensation in respect of the matters contained within this Deed, including without limitation any claim against the Authority under Clause 16.4 of the Project Agreement or otherwise for costs, expenses, losses, prolongation or disruption expenses or loss of profit arising from any works (whether such works are carried out before or after the Effective Date) required to deal with Asbestos discovered at the Facilities within the period prior to the last Actual Date of Completion to occur.

8 Governing law and dispute resolution

8.1 The law of this Deed is English law.

8.2 Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Deed shall be resolved in accordance with the procedure set out in Clause 49 (Dispute Resolution Procedure) of the Project Agreement. Subject as aforesaid, the parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and settle any action, suit, proceeding or dispute in connection with this Deed and irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of those courts.

In Witness the parties have caused this Deed to be duly executed on the date set out above.

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(f) The parties acknowledge that the extension to the Contract Term hereby agreed (the “Contract Extension“) will enable Project co to raise additional funding to facilitate Project Co’s performance of its obligations under the Project Agreement and this Deed, and the Authority agrees that on the occasion of the first financing of the Contract Extension (whether or not the Contract Extension is financed for the first time as part of a Refinancing (as that term is defined in clause 4.1 of the Project Agreement) or otherwise) all sums thereby raised up to (but not exceeding) the sum of three million pounds (£3,000,000.00) and arising solely out of the Contract Extension shall accrue solely to Project Co provided that (for the avoidance of doubt) that parties hereto agree that on any Refinancing (as that term is defined in clause 4.1 of the Project Agreement) taking place after the first financing of the Contract Extension as aforesaid the provisions of clause 4.1 of and Schedule 2 Part 8 (Rules for Refinancing) to the Project Agreement shall apply in full to the Contract Term as hereby extended.

(g) For the purposes of clause 4.1 of the Project Agreement, the Authority hereby grants its consent to the first financing of the Contract Extension (but not further or otherwise). (signature)

2-1076380-1

Schedule 1
Conditions
Part 1 – Conditions to be satisfied by Project Co

Delivery by Project Co to the Authority of the documents listed below in form and substance satisfactory to the Authority. Where listed as a duly certified copy, the document must be certified by a director or the secretary of Project Co as being a true copy:

1. A copy, duly certified, of minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of Project Co evidencing:

(a) consideration by the directors of:

(i) a final draft of this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement;

(ii) Project Co’s rights and obligations under this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement; and

(iii) any limit or restriction on any of Project Co’s powers or any limit or restriction on the rights or ability of the directors to exercise any of Project Co’s powers; and

(b) a resolution of the board of directors approving the execution, delivery and performance by Project Co of this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement and authorising a specific person or persons to execute and deliver this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement and sign and despatch all notices and other communications required or permitted to be given by Project Co under this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement.

2. A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by Project Co to execute this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement and to sign and despatch all notices and other communications required or permitted to be given by Project Co thereunder.

3. A copy, duly certified, of each of this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement.

4. The Revised Base Case Financial Model.

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2-10000834-13

Part 2 – Conditions to be satisfied by the Authority

Delivery by the Authority to Project Co of the documents listed below all in form and substance satisfactory to Project Co:

1. Copies of such (if any) of the Direct Agreements as may be required by the Lenders to be executed by the Authority, executed by the Authority (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, the other parties to the Direct Agreements); and

2. Certified copies of the appropriate minute of the Authority which evidences the delegated authority of the officer signing this Deed.

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Schedule 2
Amendments to the Project Agreement

7

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CONFORMED COPY

DATED       27 March 2001

(1) WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL

(2) WIRRAL SCHO OLSSCHOOLS SERVICES LIMITED

(signature)

===================================================================================================================

PROJECT AGREEMENT

Amended and Restated pursuant to a Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated 9th September 2004

===================================================================================================================

ROWE & MAW
20 Black Friars Lane
London EC4V 6HD

Tel: 020 7248 4282
Fax: 020 7248 2009

Ref: 617/343/476/27909.1

CONTENTS

CLAUSE SUBJECT MATTER PAGE

1. Definitions and Interpretation 2
2. Conditions Precedent 4344
3. Ancillary Documents 4647
4. Funding Arrangements, Direct Agreements, Guarantees and Prohibition on Diversification 4748
5. Term 5051
6. Planning 5051
7. Works 5657
8. Project Programme and Extensions of Time 5961
9. Design Development 6264
10. Standards of Design and Workmanship 6364
11. D & B Contract 6365
12. Decant Programme 6465
13. Care of the Sites and Reinstatement 6466
14. Inspection and Completion 6567
15. CDM Regulations 6870
16. Defects 6971
17. Fossils and Antiquities 7072
18. Services and Phase-in 7274
19. Maintenance 7678
20. Utility Services and Catering 8284
21. Value for Money Testing and Best Value 8587
22. Equipment and Materials 8789
23. Payments to Project Co 9395
24. Performance Regime 98100
25. Provisions Relating to Land 101103
26. Authority Access 103105
27. Site Licences and Leases 104106
28. Obligations of Project Co in Respect of the Sites and the Authority’s Obligations in Respect of Land 107109
29. Rates, Taxes and Outgoings 109111
30. Quality Assurance 110112
31. Reports and Records 112114
32. Variations 117119
33. Change in Law 130132
34. Indemnity and Liability Limitation 132134
35. Environmental Liability 138140
36. Insurance 139141
37. Events of Default and Termination 146148
38. Compensation on Termination 151153
39. Consequential Arrangements on Termination 155157
40. Representatives 159161
41. Sub-Contracting 161163

RMLIB01 #659790 v14 03/04/2001 15:25

i

42. Assignment 162164
43. Change of Control 163165
44. Force Majeure 164166
45. Warranties and Disclaimers 166168
46. Employees 161171
47. Intellectual Property and Data 179181
48. Confidentiality and Publicity 181183
49. Disputes 185187
50. Agency 185187
51. Personal Data 186188
52. Corrupt Gifts and Payments of Compensation 188190
53. Health and Safety, Site Rules and Occupiers Liability 190192
54. Miscellaneous 192194
55. Governing Law and Jurisdiction 196198

RMLIB01 #659790 v14 03/04/2001 15:25

ii

INDEX OF SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE HEADING
SCHEDULE 1 LAND
Part 1 Bebington Headlease
Part 2 Hilbre Headlease
Part 3 Park High Headlease
Part 4 Prenton High Headlease
Part 5 South Wirral High Headlease
Part 6 Wallasey Headlease
Part 7 Not used
Part 8 Weatherhead Headlease
Part 9 Wirral Girls Headlease
Part 10 Bebington Underlease
Part 11 Hilbre Underlease
Part 12 Park High Underlease
Part 13 Prenton High Underlease
Part 14 South Wirral High Underlease
Part 15 Wallasey Underlease
Part 16 Not used
Part 17 Weatherhead Underlease
Part 18 Wirral Girls Underlease
Part 19 Plans

SCHEDULE 2 FINANCIAL MATTERS
Part 1 Lenders’ Direct Agreement
Part 2 The Council’s Design and Building Contract Direct Agreement
Part 3 The Council’s Support Services Management Direct Agreement
Part 4 Design and Building Contract Performance Guarantee
Part 5 Support Services Management Agreement Performance Guarantee
Part 6 Initial Senior Funding Agreements
Part 7 Other Initial Funding Agreements
Part 8 Rules for Refinancing

SCHEDULE 3 WORKS

Part 1 Design Development Procedure
Part 2 Prohibited Materials

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iii

Part 3 Schedule of Key Dates
Part 4 Outline Design Documents
Part 5 The Completion Standards
Part 6 Decant Programme Methodology
Appendix 1 Decant Programme: Park High
Appendix 2 Decant: Further Obligations
Part 7 Handback Requirements
Part 8 Project Programme
Part 9 Construction Site Rules
Part 10 Handback Survey
SCHEDULE 4 PAYMENTS
Part 1 Definitions
Part 2 Services Contract Payment
Part 3 Performance Deduction Look-up Table
Part 4 Table of Service Units per School
Part 5 Monitoring
Part 6 Utility Services
Part 7 Third Part Use
Part 7A Catering
Part 8 Value for Money Testing
Appendix 1 Form of Performance and Payment Report
SCHEDULE 5 ACCOMMODATION SERVICES OUTPUT SPECIFICATION
SCHEDULE 6 SUPPORT SERVICES OUTPUT SPECIFICATION
Part 1 Building and Asset Maintenance Output Specification
Part 2 Support Service Requirements and Performance Tables
Part 3 Service Level Agreements
Part 4 Service Level Agreements Alteration Procedure
SCHEDULE 7 REPORTS AND RECORDS
Part 1 Reports
Part 2 Records
SCHEDULE 8 VARIATION
Variation Notice
SCHEDULE 9 INSURANCE
Part 1 The Part I Insurance Period

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iv

Part 2 The Part 2 Insurance Period
Appendix 1 Endorsements
Appendix 2 Broker’s Letter of Undertaking
Appendix 3 Business Interruption Insurance – the Authority’s Obligations as Insurer
Appendix 4 Schedule of Insured Parties
SCHEDULE 10 LIAISON COMMITTEE
SCHEDULE 11 COMPENSATION ON TERMINATION
Part 1 Definitions
Part 2 Project Co Default
Part 3 Authority Default
Part 4 Notice by the Authority
Part 5 Force Majeure, Uninsurability and Planning Challenge
Part 6 Corrupt Gifts
SCHEDULE 12 DISPUTE RESOLUTION
SCHEDULE 13 SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES
SCHEDULE 14 COMPENSATION EVENTS
SCHEDULE 15 METHODOLOGY FOR ASBESTOS
Appendix 1 MB Wirral Policy
Appendix 2 Asbestos Survey Risk Assessment
SCHEDULE 16 LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
SCHEDULE 17 QUALITY SYSTEMS
Part 1 Design and Build Period Quality System
Part 2 Operational Period Quality System
Appendix A Quality Policy
Appendix B Certificate of Approval
Appendix C Proposed QA Implementation Plan
Appendix D Contact Directory
Appendix E Local Procedures
SCHEDULE 18 EMPLOYEES
Part 1 Employee Information
Part 2 Terms and Conditions of Employment
SCHEDULE 19 ADMISSION AGREEMENTS AND BONDS
Part 1 Jarvis Workspace FM Limited
Part 2 Compass Group PLC

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Part 3 MTL Commercial Limited
SCHEDULE 20 STAFF SECURITY PROTOCOL
SCHEDULE 21 OPERATIONAL SITE RULES
SCHEDULE 22 DRAFT TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 23 CITY LEARNING CENTRE
SCHEDULE 24 NEW MOVEABLE EQUIPMENT SCHEDULE OF RATES

RMLIB01 #659790 v14 03/04/2001 15:25

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Continues at 6 more pages of the Wirral Schools Services Limited contract with Wirral Council.

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Dan Stephens answers questions at 4th public consultation meeting on Greasby, Upton & West Kirby fire station plans

Dan Stephens answers questions at 4th public consultation meeting on Greasby, Upton & West Kirby fire station plans

Dan Stephens answers questions at 4th public consultation meeting on Greasby, Upton & West Kirby fire station plans

                                                                         

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm (Part 1)

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm (Part 2)

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm (Part 3)

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm (Part 4)

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm (Part 5)

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm (Part 6)

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm AUDIO ONLY (complete meeting 2h7m) (Part 7)

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Playlist of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority consultation public meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and creation of new fire station at Greasby. Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm

Dan Stephens Chief Fire Officer, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service at Greasby Methodist Church Hall, Greasby Road, Greasby on 10th November 2014 for consultation meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and merger at Greasby
Dan Stephens Chief Fire Officer, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service at Greasby Methodist Church Hall, Greasby Road, Greasby on 10th November 2014 for consultation meeting on closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and merger at Greasby

The second of the meetings in Greasby (and the fourth consultation meeting overall) was held in Greasby Methodist Church Hall, Greasby Road on the 10th November 2014 starting at 7.00pm.

The main hall was packed with many people (as you can see from the photo below taken shortly before it started), so were two overflow rooms in the same building.

Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th Nov 2014 Large numbers of the public at a Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service consultation meeting to discuss fire station closure plans at West Kirby and Upton and new fire station plan at Greasby
Greasby Methodist Church Hall 10th Nov 2014 Large numbers of the public at a Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service consultation meeting to discuss fire station closure plans at West Kirby and Upton and new fire station plan at Greasby

The purpose of the meeting was as part of the 12 week consultation on the closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and the creation of a new fire station in Greasby on the Wirral. This came about following a decision of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority on the 2nd October 2014 to proceed to consultation.

Chairing the meeting (which started later than the time it was supposed to of 7.00pm) on the 10th November 2014 was Peter Rushton (Director of Corporate Communications, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service). He introduced Dan Stephens (Chief Fire Officer, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service) and stated that there were a number of senior managers of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also present.

Peter Rushton said that there would be an opportunity during the meeting to make comments and ask questions of the Chief Fire Officer (Dan Stephens). Dan Stephens would be giving a presentation on what the consultation, however Mr. Rushton made it clear that it was not a planning consultation. He said this was the fourth public meeting and the second meeting in Greasby.

He asked anybody speaking during the meeting to use the microphone so everybody could hear and take part. There were two other rooms also full of people and he hoped as many people as possible would fill out the survey forms on the tables and they would like people to fill in. Mr. Rushton said that he intended to finish the meeting by 9 o’clock.

The Chief Fire Officer, Dan Stephens said that he didn’t control the presentation, so he would ask his colleagues to move slides on. He said that at the risk of insulting people’s intelligence he wanted to make it clear from the outset that the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority was a standalone statutory body and not Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. He said that in the same way the Chief Constable has responsibilities for operational policing, that he as Chief Fire Officer was responsible for operational fire and rescue cover on Merseyside. That was the context in which he was speaking that evening.

Related articles:

11/11/14 Merseyside fire chiefs move to reassure residents over Wirral station merger by Peter Guy (Liverpool Echo)

10/11/14 Hundreds attend second public meeting in Greasby on proposed fire station merger by Craig Manning (Wirral Globe)

29/9/14 Councillors to decide soon on starting 12 week consultation on closure of West Kirby and Upton fire stations by John Brace

28/1/14 Merseyside’s Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens answers councillor’s questions about proposed closures of Wirral’s Fire Stations by John Brace

24/9/13 West Kirby and Upton Fire Stations face axe in Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority savings proposals by John Brace

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Wirral Council take nearly 20 months to respond to a FOI request for SACRE meeting minutes that should only take 20 days

Wirral Council take nearly 20 months to respond to a FOI request for SACRE meeting minutes that should only take 20 days

Wirral Council take nearly 20 months to respond to a FOI request for SACRE meeting minutes that should only take 20 days

                                   

ICO Information Commissioner's Office logo
ICO Information Commissioner’s Office logo

I wanted to write this piece to show how hard it is to get information out of Wirral Council, that is routinely published elsewhere.

On the 29th March 2013, I made this Freedom of Information Act request for the minutes of the previous meeting of Wirral Council’s Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE).

Just as a bit of background as to what the Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education is. The Education Act 1996 c.56 has s.390 to s.397 on these committees and there are also regulations called the The Religious Education (Meetings of Local Conferences and Councils) Regulations 1994 which have the following regulations relevant to this:

Regulation 3 determines that the Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education meets in public. Unusually the regulations also states that they can’t exclude the public or press except for disorderly conduct.

The public have a right to inspect a copy of the minutes of its meetings for up to 6 years after they’ve happened (also agendas and reports).

Wirral Council even has to give three days advance notice of SACRE meetings.

This document on Brent Council’s website on page 14 states “The main meetings of SACRE are public and open to all. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 all SACRE documents are required to be available for public scrutiny.”

Under Wirral Council’s internal rules this committee is not however administered by Legal and Member Services, but instead serviced by officers from the Children and Young People’s Department. It doesn’t for example appear in the list of public meetings on Wirral Council’s website.

So this is what happened when I tried to request the minutes of one meeting of SACRE.

29th March 2013 FOI request made using excellent whatdotheyknow website.
29th April 2013 Wirral Council exceeds 20 day limit for responding to request and is sent a reminder
30th April 2013 Request refused on s. 12(1) cost grounds (require >18.5 hours of work) due to:

“a great deal of Personal Data and Sensitive Data, which would have to be reviewed and redacted were applicable.”

30th April 2013 Internal review of decision of 30th April 2013 requested. It is pointed out to Wirral Council that redacting documents does not count towards the 18.5 hour limit.
30th July 2013 Internal review decision also refuses request, not on s.12(1) cost grounds but on s.14 (vexatious or repeated request) grounds.
14th August 2013 Internal review decision appealed to Information Commissioners Office
8th September 2014 ICO issue decision notice FS50509081

Decision notice states (in relation to this part of the FOI request) Wirral Council breached s.10 and incorrectly applied s.12 and s.16:
s.10 (time for compliance with request) due to failure to respond to FOI request within 20 working days
s.12 (exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit) (failed to provide evidence)
s.16 (duty to provide advice and assistance) (breached requirement)

ICO require Wirral Council to take the following steps within 35 calendar days (deadline 13th October 2014) or alternatively appeal the decision notice within 28 days of the 8th September 2014:

Issue a response to the complainant’s request that does not rely upon section 12(1) of the FOIA or regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR.
Provide advice and assistance to the complainant about which of the requested information is held by the council, and therefore falls under the terms of the FOIA or EIR.

14th October 2014 (36th calendar day after decision notice) no response received from Wirral Council (after which time it is considered contempt of court) so I tell ICO.
4th November 2014 Wirral Council supply the minutes of the SACRE meeting held on 7th February 2013 but remove all names (apart from councillors) on the basis of s.40 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

So the minutes supplied (this is an extract of the first three agenda items) look like this (I’ve added annotations in italics with an asterisk):

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION HELD ON 7 FEBRUARY 2013

Present:
Names Redacted

* Groups A to D are as follows (who makes up SACRE is determined by s.390 of the Education Act 1996:
Group A “a group of persons to represent such Christian denominations and other religions and denominations of such religions as, in the opinion of the authority, will appropriately reflect the principal religious traditions in the area;”
Group B “except in the case of an area in Wales, a group of persons to represent the Church of England;”
Group C “a group of persons to represent such associations representing teachers as, in the opinion of the authority, ought to be represented, having regard to the circumstances of the area;”
Group D “a group of persons to represent the authority.” (see below)

Councillor W Clements
Group D

Councillor W Smith
Group D

Councillor P Kearney
Group D

Councillor B Mooney
Group D

In Attendance: Names redacted

Name redacted in the Chair

1.
WELCOME

Name redacted formally welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the first item on the agenda – the Election of a Wirral SACRE Chair for the year 2013/14. .

2.
ELECTION OF POSTS

Name redacted was proposed by Councillor Clements and seconded by Name redacted. By a unanimous show of hands Name redacted was duly elected to the post of Vice Chair.

Name redacted nominated Name redacted for the post of Vice Chair and this was seconded by Name redacted. By a unanimous show of hands Name redacted was duly elected to the post of Vice Chair.

3.
SACRE Business Matters

Apologies for absence were received from Names redacted, Councillor T Smith, Name redacted.

So advice anyone, should I request an internal review of the decision to redact the names? As these are public meetings, how are the public or press supposed to find out when they meet? If I requested further SACRE meeting minutes do you think they’d take 20 months (rather than the 20 days required under FOI) to supply them?

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