Category: Wirral Council

Cabinet meeting – 14th April 2011 – Election Special Edition – Part 5 – Support for Wirral Council’s Coastal Resort Towns

Cllr Green said a series of lessons had been learnt, the key lesson being regarding how and why regarding the opportunity to get involved. Allsop’s letter had asked the Cabinet not to go forward. He was not minded to do so as they needed to move forward. The controversy was around the criteria and issues … Continue reading “Cabinet meeting – 14th April 2011 – Election Special Edition – Part 5 – Support for Wirral Council’s Coastal Resort Towns”

Cllr Green said a series of lessons had been learnt, the key lesson being regarding how and why regarding the opportunity to get involved. Allsop’s letter had asked the Cabinet not to go forward. He was not minded to do so as they needed to move forward. The controversy was around the criteria and issues regarding money going direct to companies to spend. He asked Kevin Adderley about this.

Kevin said there was wide ranging support for the seaside towns. Support for business needed to comply with EU State aid rules. For example if they gave money to one retail business it would be unfair on competition grounds, the same would go for a local manufacturer of kitchens. He said they need to ensure that officers look at any proposals before they are recommended to Cabinet.

Cllr Green asked about helping the unemployed to work in the tourism sector. Regarding the ideas that had not been successful, what support would be given or would these ideas be lost? If the recommendations were accepted, would Wirral Council speak to all applicants including the unsuccessful ones?

Kevin said there was work in the town regarding the Open golf tournament. £1.4 million was being spent to support worklessness. Environmental improvements were being made and there was funding for empty shops. Cllr Lewis referred to a Labour leaflet of Cllr Dodd’s in Liscard that said the support had been cancelled and that there was no money for empty shops.

Kevin said that Cabinet had agreed £14,500 to each Area Forum above the three areas and original allocation. Cllr Lewis said the three pilot areas had been Bromborough, New Ferry and Egremont. The agreed budget meant an equivalent sum went to each of the twenty two wards. This meant some areas had received double.

Cabinet meeting – 14th April 2011 – Election Special Edition – Part 4 – Support for Wirral Council’s Coastal Resort Towns

Kevin Adderley introduced the report referring to the special Area Forums concerned to decide and score the proposals. He said for the Hoylake and West Kirby area that the top five successful projects had been chosen, but that Wirral Council would work with those unsuccessful applications to try and find alternative funding. He said there was a risk regarding council owned assets and that it was a significant risk. The health and safety implications were also referred to and he said they had “learnt a lot” and a further report would be coming to Cabinet on the participatory budget process.

There had been some disagreement with the proposals, stories in the local press, email and a letter from a Caroline Allsop which had been circulated to Cabinet members. Cllr Green and Cllr Elderton declared a personal interest as they had attended the West Kirby area forum. Cllr Green said letting go and inviting people to make decisions meant they had to live with the public’s choice. There had been clear guidance and presentations, however lessons would be learnt. More opportunities need to be taken to delegate decision to residents in their neighbourhoods. It was important to learn the lessons. He thanked Kevin and the engagement team.

Cllr Holbrook noted that both Area Forums chose the participatory budget route. The Cabinet resolution had not specified the method, but evidence showed it was the right decision and went well.

Cllr Lewis referring to community engagement said there had been a good attendance at the special Area Forums, however if there was no real offer at Area Forums and people there just heard the Council drone on it led to lower attendances. Involving residents in deciding how money was spent was a way to encourage them to come along.

Cabinet meeting – 14th April 2011 – Election Special Edition – Part 3 – NHS questions

Cllr Elderton said he was asking about the other end of the age spectrum. He said his experience of Arrowe Park Hospital was rare and brief. It had been excellent regarding recent surgery he had had. In the media there had been reports regarding respect and consideration for older people with the suggestion that some were not looked after properly. How did Wirral University Teaching Hospital check on this issue.

Mr. Richards answered that they monitor quality. Cllr Elderton asked if there were any glitches regarding food and water. The Chief Executive said that ward audits were carried out and that the Director of Nursing Tina Long made unannounced weekly inspections in which they talked to patients and staff. Complaints through PALs or written complaints were also looked at. Also pressure sores, falls and adverse outcomes were investigated to resolve hotspots that could be caused by staff sickness, poor leadership or problems with management. The Biz will in the postgraduate education centre published the data.

Cllr Green referred to a discussion of the Local Strategic Partnership, who agreed with this approach.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 17th March was agreed.

Bill Norman informed the Cabinet that in respect of the Delamare Centre, ward councillors and the leader had been consulted and that it would be transferred soon.

The agenda was then reordered to take item 27 (Support for Wirral’s Coastal Towns) first.

Another sunny day in Bidston talking to voters

I spent another morning talking to postal voters (who should be receiving their ballot papers in the next week). Today is the last day for postal vote applications.

There were many wishing the Lib Dems well on the doorstep and it is clear that the Conservatives will come a poor third in this election. Out of the three main political parties I have not received any leaflet from one – the Tories.

As there are less candidates this year, some people who previously for other parties are now voting Liberal Democrat.

With three weeks to go, it is obvious that only two sorts of votes will count in this election, those for the Liberal Democrats or those for Labour. There will always be some Tory voters, but if you vote Tory you’ll get Labour!

People have a choice between a local Liberal Democrat candidate who lives in the ward vs a Labour candidate who lives in Oxton.

People have a choice between voting to elect a Lib Dem councillor who will have a say in the running of Wirral Council versus another Labour opposition councillor (to add to the two you have already) who can’t make tough decisions as Labour isn’t in charge.

People have a choice between somebody new and different or the same councillor you’ve had for twenty years.

I understand many people find it hard not to vote Labour. I know there are plenty of people who know Harry Smith. I know there are others who vote because their families always have or because of union involvement. Look around Bidston & St. James. See what it has become under decades of Labour. Do you want more of the same or something different? Do you want someone who lives here and cares passionately about the people and the area or another four years of Labour?

Labour Rose: Election Special

Whilst out today with my wife, I spotted Cllr Harry Smith on Worcester Road and sure enough when I returned home there was a Labour leaflet delivered.

It seems both the Lib Dems and Labour agree that the nearly £2 million spent on Cathcart Street Primary School is a good idea. The very spot Cllr Smith and former Cllr Cocker are standing in in a photo on the leaflet was where we were told by a caretaker that photos couldn’t be taken! I have also listened to the concerns of John Cocker and the headteacher which they have aired at a number of public meetings when the future of the school was under threat.

It was however not Labour’s decision to make. It was Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors that decided to close Cole Street Primary School, save Cathcart Street Primary School and invest money into Cathcart Street Primary School (in fact they will be making a decision on the contractor on Thursday).

Onto the second story in the leaflet, as Cllr Smith knows it was Liberal Democrats that campaigned for road safety measures on Fender Way. We were the ones who handed in a petition over over a hundred residents. We lobbied the local councillors, showed them photos and kicked up such a fuss we were told (after Cllr Smith complained to Cllr Roberts) never to bring a petition to an Area Forum ever again!

His claim that he "made sure resources were allocated from local Area Forum funding" is a strange one to make. The decisions over the local Area Forum funding allocation for road safety for this financial year were made by Wirral Council’s Cabinet (comprised of Conservative and Lib Dem councillors). We have an email from Wirral Council stating that no decisions are made by the Area Forum panel in respect of this. Wirral Council may have it wrong, so we will look into the matter and report back in a later more detailed post.

Cllr Harry Smith then takes credit for "more than £250,000" allocated to road repairs on Wirral. Going by a press release about pothole repair, the figure is £625,931 and judging by the large difference in the amounts, Cllr Harry Smith seems to be referring (despite writing "the recent cold spell" to not last Winter, but the Winter before when a Liberal Democrat Cabinet member for Streetscene and Transport Cllr Jean Quinn decided to put extra money towards potholes.

Cllr Smith then goes on to mention the Liberal Democrat Party. He states "Are you aware that the Liberal Democrat Party has long been in favour of votes for prisoners?"

Jeremy Brown, Lib Dem MP for Taunton and spokesperson for the party said in the House of Commons, "It was said that my party favours votes for prisoners, but that was not in our manifesto and the Leader of my party has made it explicit that he does not favour them."

In February MPs voted 234 to 22 against giving prisoners the vote. I will write an article further on this. However if you wish to view the debate in the House of Commons on this issue it can be viewed on the BBC’s website.

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