Why has Minister Sajid Javid requested a “team of experts” to intervene at Wirral Council after Wirral Council’s repeated delays in producing a Local Plan?

Why has Minister Sajid Javid requested a “team of experts” to intervene at Wirral Council after Wirral Council’s repeated delays in producing a Local Plan?

Why has Minister Sajid Javid requested a “team of experts” to intervene at Wirral Council after Wirral Council’s repeated delays in producing a Local Plan?

                                                

Photo 4 - Cllr Phil Davies answering questions Birkenhead Constituency Committee 1st March 2018
Cllr Phil Davies answering questions at the Birkenhead Constituency Committee 1st March 2018

Edited 27.3.2018 14:32 An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated one of the other three councils facing intervention was Castlerock, this has now been corrected to Castle Point.

The latest in an exchange of letters between the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP (Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government) and Cllr Phil Davies (Leader of Wirral Council) has been published.

Wirral Council’s failure to produce a Local Plan (which are their policies by which planning applications are decided) has led to intervention. Out of the fifteen local government bodies that the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP wrote to initially (which included locally Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) only three (Wirral Council, Castle Point Borough Council and Thanet District Council) have caused enough concern to warrant intervention.
Continue reading “Why has Minister Sajid Javid requested a “team of experts” to intervene at Wirral Council after Wirral Council’s repeated delays in producing a Local Plan?”

What are the Conservative and Liberal Democrat budget proposals for Wirral Council for 2018-19?

What are the Conservative and Liberal Democrat budget proposals for Wirral Council for 2018-19?

What are the Conservative and Liberal Democrat budget proposals for Wirral Council for 2018-19?

                                                      

Councillor Ian Lewis (Leader of Conservative Group) Wirral Council (Council, 11th December 2017) who proposed the Conservative Budget Objection
Councillor Ian Lewis (Leader of Conservative Group) Wirral Council (Council, 11th December 2017) who proposed the Conservative Budget Objection

As a declaration of interest, I will start by stating that I’m married to someone will have to pay the 5.99% council tax rise (if agreed tonight).

This evening, all 65 councillors at Wirral Council have been invited to a public meeting in the Council Chamber at Wallasey Town Hall to decide on the Council’s Budget for 2018-19 (1.4.18 to 31.3.19) starting at 6.00 pm.

The ruling Labour administration (who hold 38 out of 65 seats) proposed their Budget at the Cabinet meeting held on the 19th February 2018.

However both the Conservative Group of 21 councillors and the Liberal Democrat Group of 5 councillors have proposed alternatives to be considered this evening.
Continue reading “What are the Conservative and Liberal Democrat budget proposals for Wirral Council for 2018-19?”

Wirral Council rejects complaint about Saughall Massie Fire Station planning application but apologised for delay!

Wirral Council rejects complaint about Saughall Massie Fire Station planning application but apologised for delay!

Wirral Council rejects complaint about Saughall Massie Fire Station planning application but apologised for delay!

                                          

Wirral Council’s Planning Committee 20th July 2017 voting to approve planning application APP/17/00306 (Saughall Massie fire station)
Wirral Council’s Planning Committee 20th July 2017 voting to approve planning application APP/17/00306 (Saughall Massie fire station)

In what appears to be a topical issue, as it is today that a councillor is now complaining about the knock on effect of Saughall Massie on Wallasey Wirral Council have finally issued a stage 2 complaint response (with an apology) over the grant of planning permission for the Saughall Massie Fire Station.
Continue reading “Wirral Council rejects complaint about Saughall Massie Fire Station planning application but apologised for delay!”

EXCLUSIVE: What was Cllr Phil Davies’ last-minute reply to a letter threatening government intervention?

EXCLUSIVE: What was Cllr Phil Davies’ last-minute reply to a letter threatening government intervention?

EXCLUSIVE: What was Cllr Phil Davies’ last-minute reply to a letter threatening government intervention?

                              

Last year, it was revealed at a special meeting of Wirral Council’s Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (which can be watched below) that a government minister had written to Wirral Council expressing his concern that Wirral Council wasn’t preparing a Local Plan quick enough. A deadline of 31st January 2018 (yesterday) was given to reply.

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Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee 7th December 2018 Part 1 of 2

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Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee 7th December 2018 Part 2 of 2

Below is Cllr Phil Davies’ reply sent yesterday to the letter, followed by two attachments. The matter was also discussed by councillors yesterday at a regular public meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (although councillors and the public present were handed out the reply and two attachments at the start of that agenda item rather than the start of the meeting which left little opportunity for it to be read in detail or scrutiny).
Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: What was Cllr Phil Davies’ last-minute reply to a letter threatening government intervention?”

Wirral Council Planning Committee vote in favour of 21 houses in Eastham greenbelt to fund redevelopment of Old Anselmians Rugby Club

Wirral Council Planning Committee vote in favour of 21 houses in Eastham greenbelt to fund redevelopment of Old Anselmians Rugby Club

Wirral Council Planning Committee vote in favour of 21 houses in Eastham greenbelt to fund redevelopment of Old Anselmians Rugby Club

                                    

I will start by stating an interest in this matter. The planning application I am about to write about relates to the Old Anselmians Rugby Club. Although I left over 20 years ago, I could be described as an Old Anselmian (that is someone who formerly went to St. Anselms College).
Continue reading “Wirral Council Planning Committee vote in favour of 21 houses in Eastham greenbelt to fund redevelopment of Old Anselmians Rugby Club”