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Gritting (continued) as the weather gets colder

Having received a phone call from someone (I presume based at Wirral Council) I now better understand why there are the problems with gritting (and complaints from residents). Although I was told that routes on the list are being gritted, the grit isn’t being as effective as it could be due to the low temperatures. … Continue reading “Gritting (continued) as the weather gets colder”

Having received a phone call from someone (I presume based at Wirral Council) I now better understand why there are the problems with gritting (and complaints from residents).

Although I was told that routes on the list are being gritted, the grit isn’t being as effective as it could be due to the low temperatures. I was reassured that although the gritting team is working hard there are factors outside of its control. For example if the temperature drops too low for it to work.

I did ask why they weren’t using grit that works at the lower temperatures; the answer given was the other type of grit costs more. An added complication is that weather forecasts aren’t always 100% correct.

The person wanted to make sure I wasn’t “misleading the public”; so hopefully the above explains matters better. I will also be rereading the review from last year and looking into this in more detail.

Interestingly the cold weather seems to have led to more visitors to this blog. I might point out that Colas gave out the wrong information regarding Streetscene as it’s open from 8am (not 9am, which is what Colas stated).

True grit edition (continued)

As gritting is still a problem we’ve both been in touch with Streetscene.

It’s interesting how my wife and I get a different response from Streetscene; but then I suppose there’s a red flag in respect to my name.

We’re doing our best. However I will point out that:-

It was a Labour led Council last year that (if memory serves me right) awarded the contract to Colas. As I did last year I brought up concerns about this contract however the Labour led council denied my Freedom of Information Act requests on grounds of commercial sensitivity. It then turned down a review of this request.

When £40 million is at stake I suppose the public aren’t entitled to know if the gritting is being done properly.

So if you wonder why it’s not done in-house anymore and the roads are icy – blame Labour and its policies of privatisation and subcontracting Wirral Council’s responsibilities.

Until the end of this financial year, Wirral Council is operating under a budget with Labour priorities in it.

Subcontracting services leads to massive problems with communication, monitoring contracts and complaints from the unions about changes to terms and conditions. In this case there are many from residents too.

In many cases, subcontracting is used as a “smokescreen”; to deny the public (and media) information over how their money is spent. It also sets up a convenient scapegoat if things go wrong.

Labour Still Isn't Working Poster

Musical interlude – guess the blank edition

Strangely both I and my wife thought of a certain councillor when we heard this. I’ll leave it to readers to guess which leader and party we immediately both thought of!

I grew so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough into local government
I always voted at my party’s call
And I never thought of thinking for myself at all

He never thought of thinking for himself at all

I thought so little,
they rewarded me
By making me the leader of the             Party

He thought so little,
they rewarded he
By making him the leader of the           Party

Now, landsmen all, whoever you may be
If you want to rise to the top of the tree
If your soul isn’t fettered to an office stool
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule

Be careful to be guided by this golden rule

Stick close to your desks,

Yes,

And never go to sea
And you all may be leaders of the            Party

Stick close to your desks and never go to sea
And you all may be leaders of the            Party

With thanks to Gilbert and Sullivan for the original lyrics. If you’d like to watch the original it’s on youtube here.

Cabinet – Part 4 – Finance & Best Value

There was good news in report 11; of savings of £862,000 from the Insurance Fund.

A Labour councillor said something along the lines of £1 million down, £44 million to go.

Report 12 was amended, an extra clause 13.2/13.3 were added which requested a review is reported promptly as well as calling for internal audit to be more “closely aligned” with the Risk Management Strategy.

The ICT Strategy (report 13) was approved with Cllr. Green referring to it as a “good piece of work” that would “deliver savings”. He also mentioned the recent Employment and Appointments committee meeting.

Report 14 prompted some jokes about school meals as it referred to the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. The Interim Director of Education informed the committee of the Healthy Schools status of Wirral’s schools. Although some schools had their own arrangements for school meals, the contract (being awarded to the Potato Man) was being awarded as the previous contractor had withdrawn.

Item 15 was a good news story announced by the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group/Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transport – Cllr Lesley Rennie.

As per previous years, there will be free parking on the three Thursdays leading up to Christmas after 3pm in Birkenhead/Liscard/Heswall and West Kirby.

In addition there will be a free Saturday morning of parking in Birkenhead on the 18th December, as well as all day on the 26th December and 1st January.

Hopefully this will support local businesses and shopping areas. Wirral Council will also be advertising and publicising this.

Cabinet – Environment/ Regeneration & Planning Strategy – Part 3

Next was a report recommending that Wirral Council make more use of renewable energy in its buildings. A motion adding an extra recommendation was circulated (which called for a further report/action plan) including requesting working with social housing providers to generate cheaper electricity for tenants (and the Council).

This follows on from the Notice of Motion on the same topic on the 18th October 2010.

Item 8 explained the Regional Growth Fund, the LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) was also mentioned. An upcoming meeting with Lord Heseltine was mentioned by Cllr Green.

A number of questions were asked on item 9 about Peel Properties request for a joint venture at Woodside, Birkenhead. This involved land owned by Peel, Merseytravel, Wirral council and another private sector business.