Will council tax payers pay an extra £7.6 million for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority?

Will council tax payers pay an extra £7.6 million for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority?

Will council tax payers pay an extra £7.6 million for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority?

                            

Birkenhead Constituency Committee (27th September 2018) Cllr Phil Davies right answering a question on the Local Plan
Birkenhead Constituency Committee (27th September 2018) Cllr Phil Davies (right)

At the start I will declare a financial interest in that my household pays council tax to Wirral Council.

The Liverpool Echo carries the news today that Steve Rotheram’s budget (if agreed by the Combined Authority at its public meeting on the 1st Feburary 2019) will from the 1st April 2019 result in increased council tax for both Wirral residents and other residents across the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority area.
Continue reading “Will council tax payers pay an extra £7.6 million for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority?”

What did the public ask the 4 MPs on the House of Commons Transport Committee in Liverpool yesterday?

What did the public ask the 4 MPs on the House of Commons Transport Committee in Liverpool yesterday?

What did the public ask the 4 MPs on the House of Commons Transport Committee in Liverpool yesterday?

                                    

Transport Committee (House of Commons) Question and Answer Session Right Lilian Greenwood MP (Chair, Nottingham South) left Daniel Zeichner MP (Cambridge), Mann Island, Liverpool 14th January 2019
Transport Committee (House of Commons) Question and Answer Session Right Lilian Greenwood MP (Chair, Nottingham South) left Daniel Zeichner MP (Cambridge), Mann Island, Liverpool 14th January 2019

The House of Commons Transport Committee visited Liverpool yesterday to hear a formal evidence session from witnesses from Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach. Unfortunately their link video recording link didn’t work and their session is only at the time of publication available in audio which can be listened to here. Although I was present for part of that, I’m not permitted to film it although it was interesting to see how scrutiny by Members of Parliament is different to scrutiny by councillors.

However I did film the later public question and answer session which was well attended by the public and raised a whole range of very interesting transport issues.
Continue reading “What did the public ask the 4 MPs on the House of Commons Transport Committee in Liverpool yesterday?”

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

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

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

                                           

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

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


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

Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case (part 2)

Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case (part 2)                                       This continues from Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case. The Claimant’s representative referred to pages 275-276 which had examples of different requirements at different work locations. For example the Claimant had been due to work at […]

Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case (part 2)

                                     

Liverpool Civil & Family Court, Vernon Street, Liverpool, L2 2BX (the venue for First-Tier Tribunal case EA/2016/0033)
Liverpool Civil & Family Court, Vernon Street, Liverpool, L2 2BX (the venue for Employment Tribunal case 2410271/18

This continues from Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case.

The Claimant’s representative referred to pages 275-276 which had examples of different requirements at different work locations. For example the Claimant had been due to work at Woodside on Monday, the Spaceport on Tuesday and in order to make up her hours had started at the Pier Head on Monday, gone over to Woodside on the boat, then returned back later on Tuesday to Seacombe Terminal before or after work at the Spaceport which had been two days in four different locations.
Continue reading “Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case (part 2)”

Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case

Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case

Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case

                                     

Liverpool Civil & Family Court, Vernon Street, Liverpool, L2 2BX (the venue for First-Tier Tribunal case EA/2016/0033)
Liverpool Civil & Family Court, Vernon Street, Liverpool, L2 2BX (the venue for Employment Tribunal case 2410271/18

Yesterday morning I sat through an hour (including a long adjournment) of an Employment Tribunal brought by a Mrs Margaret Cole against Merseytravel. Mrs Cole alleges that she suffered a detriment, discrimination and/or dismissal on grounds of disability or failure of employer to make reasonable adjustments. Despite recent guidance to court staff stating that both names of solicitors and that press should have access to the hearing bundle and witness statements I was not given access to the hearing bundle, witness statements or told the names of the solicitors despite an explicit verbal request on my part to court staff. I was told that no bundle was available.

This was day three of an expected five days. The hearing started with the Claimant’s representative referring to a 2 page document that had been served by email on the Employment Tribunal by her instructing solicitor. Employment Judge Shotter asked what it was and was told in reference to page 132 of the bundle that it listed all occupational footwear. Employment Judge Shotter asked if Merseytravel’s representative had seen it, to which he answered he had. Employment Judge Shotter then asked if paper copies were available.
Continue reading “Employment Tribunal hears cross-examination of Merseytravel employee in disability discrimination case”