Category: Labour

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 5

Cllr George Davies had had a long discussion with the traffic management team, about the triangle from Brassey Street all the way up to Bidston Avenue and the best way to do it. 20mph zones had been added with Sumner Road being the only road not having a 20mph zone in the middle. He didn’t … Continue reading “Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 5”

Cllr George Davies had had a long discussion with the traffic management team, about the triangle from Brassey Street all the way up to Bidston Avenue and the best way to do it. 20mph zones had been added with Sumner Road being the only road not having a 20mph zone in the middle. He didn’t know the logic, but supported the residents 100%. Leaving one road, just made it into a racetrack, Cllr Davies said he 100% supports them. There were a lot of children that lived there and they can’t just wait for an accident to happen. Thinking about what should be done he said the residents don’t want humps, but something novel, such as their own parking down the side of the road or a 1-way system. On behalf of them he would like to see a program drawn up and evaluated. Angela said she was concerned about bricks through her windows.

Cllr Davies said he would take it back to Joey Smith to be looked at and evaluated, but it was a long time to wait for the next Area Forum. Cllr Roberts suggested they leave either other contact numbers.

Cllr Foulkes said there was a mechanism via the Area Forums, a central pot was devolved to the Forum level to be spent wisely. They could put a market down for the money. This years money had been allocated, but it could be added to the program for next year. There was £20,000 to be allocated, he wanted it minuted as an official bid. He also suggested monitoring of traffic coming to Sumner Road through Landsdowne Road.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 2

Cllr Foulkes continued by saying that Wirral is a diverse borough of haves and have nots with lots of deprived areas, from the millionaires of Caldy and in between bits of everything. However they faced tough financial times, every spending decision should be made as close as possible to where it had effect. Resources could be moved around. However Wirral council had lost £54 million [which he corrected to £51 million] from its budget for this year, 1200 staff and more had to go. The current budget projects to Cabinet predicted they would lose £20.8 million in 2012-2013. It was a tough task with little money to spend. It had to spent not on a night out but a meal in. This was a simple message. He would be leaving by ten past seven to go to the Leasowe Estate to make himself available. If anyone wanted to get in touch his email address is stevefoulkes@wirral.gov.uk . He said he looked forward to serving as he had done previously. Although this Area Forum was all Labour councillors, some wards had mixed representation where he would work with the other two parties. He said he had been around a long time, but didn’t know the areas in depth. He wanted to spend every penny in the right way to satisfy people’s needs.

The minutes were agreed except for a few minor changes. One person had been omitted from those present. At the bottom of page 4 and top of page 5 million should read billion. £1.4 million to £1.4 billion and £8.6 million to £8.6 billion. After the amendments they were accepted as a true record.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 starting at 6.30pm, library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 1

Present: Cllr George Davies (Claughton)
Cllr Steve Foulkes (Claughton)
Cllr Denise Roberts (Claughton)
Cllr Jim Crabtree
Also: Lucy Beed
Michelle Gray
Ian Brand
Jim Thompson
Community Patrol
Police representative
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
+ members of the public

The Chair Cllr Roberts welcomed those present to the Area Forum and introduced those present. Ian Brand was the lead officer, Cllr Foulkes was a Claughton councillor and Leader of Wirral Council. Cllr Davies was also a Claughton councillor. Lucy Beed was there from planning and customer engagement. Gary Cummings was there from Streetscene, Jim Thompson introduced himself. So did a person from the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service but I didn’t manage to catch their name. A sergeant from Laird Street was also there as well as Cllr Crabtree and Michelle Gray.

Apologies had been received from Jean McIntosh (community representative), Dr. Abi Mantgani (NHS), Pat Landsborough (community representative)

Cllr Foulkes said that he was going to every Area Forum and introducing himself as the new Leader of Wirral Council. He wanted people to approach him directly. The Area Forums when created had drifted away from their original aims in devolving power and resources. He wanted a good turnout at meetings and for Area Forums to be revived. Area Forums would play a huge part in owning Neighbourhood Plans. By December Bidston & St. James/Claughton Area Forum would have its own neighbourhood plan, which would influence himself as Council Leader regarding the area’s needs and priorities.

Bramall Construction and the Labour Cabinet meeting of 2nd June

On 2nd June Labour’s Cabinet met. Cllr George Davies declared a prejudicial interest in item 20 – “Appointment of Keepmoat Homes as the Council’s Preferred Private Developer Partner for Birkenhead (Minute No. 21 refers)” by virtue of his son working for Bramall Construction Limited, part of the Keepmoat Group and left the meeting whilst this matter was under consideration. The minutes are the source for this.

This left 9 councillors to decide (in the absence of the press and public due to it being commercially sensitive).

Yet if the report had anything to do with Bramall Construction Ltd how come the Birkenhead Labour councillors (such as Cllr. Foulkes, Cllr Harry Smith, Cllr Ann McLachlan etc etc) didn’t declare as an interest a £2000 donation to the Birkenhead Constituency Labour Party from Bramall Construction Ltd in May 2004?

Admittedly you can’t expect Labour councillors to remember a £2000 donation made 7 years ago… Bramall Construction Ltd state it was for sponsorship of an event the Labour Party held at Prenton Park (Tranmere Rovers ground).

On the subject of Tranmere Rovers, was this similar to the free tickets from Tranmere Rovers (that weren’t declared as an interest but were in the gifts register) that Cllr George Davies, Cllr Harry Smith and Cllr Foulkes received before deciding to renew a sponsorship deal worth over £100,000?

No, I’m sure there is a purely innocent explanation behind these matters…..

Wirral Council – Wirral Council 23rd May 2011 – Part 17 – speech (Cllr Steve Foulkes) on Conservative amendments to committee places

Cllr Foulkes said that as the new leader that the Conservatives could put proposals which they would “be here all night over”. The Chair was not likely to use their casting vote. If Jeff Green entrusted the leadership and executive this was churlish. Anything referred from the Employment and Appointments Committee would go back to the Executive and it would make initial difficulties.

In relation to the Audit and Risk Management committee there were high levels of training and it acted independently. However things were “not set in tablets of stone”. Cllr Harney said he would like to say a few words. He wanted to discuss these serious issues and what the real intentions were. Was it to be constructive and work together or be a kamikaze? He was not seeking to unbalance things by a positive abstention. They still had the power to change the committee structure and the leadership. His Group [of Lib Dem councillors] would abstain but be open if there were problems. If there were the leader would be asked to take it or leave it, however it was a new ballgame.

Cllr Green proposed the motion, seconded by Cllr Rennie. 26 Conservative councillors voted for, 30 Labour councillors against and 9 Lib Dem councillor abstained so the motion was lost.

The original Labour motion (proposed by Cllr Foulkes, seconded by Cllr Davies) was put to the vote. Thirty Labour councillors voted for, 26 Conservative councillors against and 9 Lib Dem councillors abstained.

Cllr Foulkes said he would provide the other names of Cabinet members later.

Cllr Green asked how can they plan committees when the papers have not yet gone out? How could new members give proper consideration and not risk maladministration?