A blog about Wirral Council, Wirral Council's councillors & officers
A blog about Wirral Council's public meetings, Wirral Council's councillors, Bidston & St. James ward and other public bodies on Merseyside
Here are the missing six pages I didn’t have time to upload last night. The first part of this blog post can be found here. Page 1 (Section 1 – Details of candidate and election) (Section 2 – Details of election agent) Page 2 (Section 3 – Summary of Spending) Page 3 (Section 3a – … Continue reading “As promised in a conversation with Cllr Foulkes Election Expenses Return Part 2/2”
Here are the missing six pages I didn’t have time to upload last night. The first part of this blog post can be found here.
Page 1
(Section 1 – Details of candidate and election)
(Section 2 – Details of election agent)
Page 2
(Section 3 – Summary of Spending)
Page 3
(Section 3a – Types of Payment)
Page 4
(Section 4 – Donations)
After I published Cllr Foulkes’ election expenses return last year I agreed with him to publish mine too. Sadly as I had a broken arm, much of it was done (as are most people’s) by their election agent. However, it seems ok with me, but if anyone has any queries, please contact me or Leonora. They’re also on a public register at Wallasey Town Hall for the next two years too. As you can see from my signature on the candidate declaration you can see how bad my handwriting was two weeks after I broke my arm. Then there’s the agent declaration. Leonora actually made a mistake here as she put “Leonora Brace” instead of “John Brace” for the candidate’s name (TBH the forms do get confusing and she was stressed out caring for me), so it had to be redone. However she used blue ink the second time instead of black. Links to the first half of the rest is below. If I number them from 1-14, the following are blank or contain £NIL figures, but I’m sure you wish to see them anyway:- Page 5 (A ADVERTISING) Page 8 (C TRANSPORT) Page 9 (D PUBLIC MEETINGS) Page 10 (E AGENT AND OTHER COSTS) Page 11 (F ACCOMMODATION AND ADMINISTRATION) Page 12 (Unpaid Claims) Page 13 (Disputed Claims) Page 14 (Donations you have received) For the exciting other six pages I will upload another day as 9 A4 sides is enough for one day and it’s time for bed. It’s mainly very dull anyway covering factual stuff such as the ward name, candidate name, agent name, number of people who could vote etc…. The second part of this blog post is here.
Public Interest Report written by the Audit Commission about Wirral Council’s procurement process for the provision of highway and engineering services in 2008/09.
There have been a number of readers interested in the public interest report published by the Audit Commission. Links to it and related material are below.
The 24-page report (as a pdf file) entitled “Wirral Council: Report in the public interest” . ED – 29th December 2013 This link previously linked to the Audit Commission’s website. However the Audit Commission is in the process of being abolished so the previous link now points to a copy of the public interest report hosted on this blog.
The Wirral Council press release about it dated 8th June 2012 ED – 29th December 2013 The press release relating to the public interest report is no longer available on Wirral Council’s website and merely returns an “Access denied” page.
A page on the Audit Commission website specifying the report is about Wirral Council’s procurement process for the provision of highway and engineering services in 2008/09 *This previously linked to a page on the Audit Commission’s website. However the page is no longer there as the Audit Commission is in the process of being abolished.
There have also been a number of press articles about it, Twitters etc… I’m pretty sure it’ll be discussed at the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting on Thursday too, based on the tweet of a Labour councillor.
The Chair pointed out there were no microphones as these were needed by the Employment and Appointments Committee. He asked people to speak up. He welcomed the three new members of the Committee, Robert, Mike and Janette.
Item 1 Declarations of Interest
No Declarations of interest were made.
Item 2 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 8th March were agreed.
Item 3 Appointment of Vice-Chair
Nominations were sought for Vice-Chair.
Labour spokesperson Cllr Jean Stapleton was proposed by Cllr Mark Johnston and the proposal was seconded.
There were no other nominations.
Cllr Jean Stapleton was appointed as Vice-Chair unanimously.
Item 4 Presentation and Discussion – Member of the Business Community
The Chair tried to give context to the presentation and Q&A session of David and Lisa.
A Powerpoint presentation was given by Lisa about their Combisave product which was a thermostatic valve for a combi boiler. When attached to the pipe work it would save gas (resulting in carbon savings) and water. It also speeded up the time that hot water arrived.
Lisa showed the Committee a Youtube video created by University of Salford students. She estimated that fitting the valve would result in savings of £50 to £100/year. There was also a video for installers on Youtube.
She detailed the work they had done with United Utilities, British Gas as well as the media coverage they had received on BBC Radio 2. She went into detail about their problems in finding a manufacturer and the awards they had won (or been shortlisted for).
She showed links to the following Youtube videos.
Combisave Before and After and Fitting the Combisave.
Councillors then asked questions.
One asked the price. The answer given was £79 + VAT (£94.80) and it was pointed out that Wirral Partnership Homes was trialling forty.
Cllr Denise Realey asked a question about pre heat. It was answered that it was the same or better than pre heat.
Another councillor asked why they didn’t manufacture it themselves?
The answer given was that it had taken three years of research and design and the product had only been launched last year. The current products were being given out for trials.
Committee:
Cllr Paul Doughty (Chair)
Cllr George Davies
Cllr Adrian Jones
Cllr Phil Davies
Cllr Ann McLachlan
Cllr Jeff Green (Conservative Spokesperson)
Cllr Lesley Rennie
Cllr Peter Kearney
Cllr Phil Gilchrist deputy for Cllr Mark Johnston (Lib Dem Spokesperson)
In attendance:
Cllr Tom Harney
Chris Hyams
Bill Norman
Various officers
+public + press
Ian Coleman left the room whilst this item was discussed having declared an interest in it.
The committee voted 6:3 to approve the early retirement request of Jim Wilkie, Chief Executive. He has (unless the item is called in or judicially reviewed) retired as of the 7th June 2012.
The voting was as follows (on whether to grant Early Retirement) was 6:3 and passed. An earlier Conservative amendment was lost 3:6:-
For Early Retirement (6)
Cllr Paul Doughty (Lab)
Cllr Phil Davies (Lab)
Cllr Adrian Jones (Lab)
Cllr George Davies (Lab)
Cllr Ann McLachlan (Lab)
Cllr Phil Gilchrist (Lib Dem) deputising for Cllr Mark Johnston (Lib Dem)
Against Early Retirement (3)
Cllr Jeff Green (Con)
Cllr Lesley Rennie (Con)
Cllr Peter Kearney (Con)
=============================================================================
Conservative amendment (LOST 3 (Conservative (3)): 6 (Labour (5)) + (Lib Dem (1)))
Moved by Cllr Jeff Green (Spokesperson)
Seconded by Cllr Lesley Rennie
This Committee notes:
(1) the contribution and service that Mr. Wilkie has given to the people of Wirral over the last 23 years.
(2) the decision on Mr. Wilkie, advised by the Director of Finance and the Director of Law, to allow two members of staff to leave under compromise agreements, less than 1 working day prior to the publication of the AKA report without bringing any potential disciplinary issues to the attention of this Committee.
(3) the queries raised by myself as Leader of the Conservative Group and subsequently as Leader of the Council in response to the report of Mr. Wilkie: Agenda Item 15: Interim Management Arrangements at the meeting held on 29th September 2011 remain unanswered.
(4) that if his retirement was to go ahead these matters may remain secret and unanswered.
Therefore this Committee believes that until these matters are adequately reported to this Committee and Members have had the opportunity to express a view it is clearly inappropriate to approve the extra cost and request for Early Voluntary Retirement from Mr. Wilkie.
==========================================================================================================
Labour recommendation (CARRIED 6 (Labour (5)) + (Lib Dem (1)) :3 (Conservative (3)))
PROPOSED: Cllr Phil Davies
SECONDED: Cllr Ann McLachlan
That the Employment and Appointments Committee approve the following;
The Early Voluntary retirement of Mr Wilkie on the 7 June 2012 and the release of his pension on the grounds of efficiency of the service.
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Related story by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Echo: Wirral Tories oppose council chief executive’s early retirement
