Bidston Wrexham line electrification

There’s an interesting story in the Daily Post about how a government minister is ruling this out between now and 2015. After that she says it’s up to Wirral Council and the other local authorities along the route putting forward a value for money plan. I must say it’s broadly in agreement with what Neil … Continue reading “Bidston Wrexham line electrification”

There’s an interesting story in the Daily Post about how a government minister is ruling this out between now and 2015. After that she says it’s up to Wirral Council and the other local authorities along the route putting forward a value for money plan.

I must say it’s broadly in agreement with what Neil Scales said, former Chief Executive/Director General of Merseytravel at Wirral Council’s Cabinet.

The Bidston/Wrexham line covers two countries (Wales and England) which makes things even more complex as the Welsh Assembly have oversight for transport in Wales.

Area Forum (Bidston and Claughton)

The Area Forum is tonight (12th June 2012), starting at 6.30pm at the St James Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 7AL. Further information including the agenda.

It’s a public meeting so anyone can come along. The agenda is below:

1. Welcome, Introductions and Apologies
2. Actions from February Forum
3. Update on 20mph zones
4. Neighbourhood Plans Your Economy Your Family What Next/Future Funding
5. Partner Updates/Public Question Time
6. Date of next Neighbourhood Forum
Wednesday 3rd October 2012 6.30pm – 8.30pm to be hosted at

Bidston Avenue Primary School,
Tollemache Road,
Claughton,
Wirral
CH41 0DQ

As promised in a conversation with Cllr Foulkes Election Expenses Return Part 2/2

Here are the missing six pages I didn’t have time to upload last night. The first part of this blog post can be found here.

Page 1
(Section 1 – Details of candidate and election)
(Section 2 – Details of election agent)

Page 2
(Section 3 – Summary of Spending)

Page 3
(Section 3a – Types of Payment)

Page 4
(Section 4 – Donations)

Page 6
(B. Unsolicited material to electors)

Page 7
(C. Transport)

As promised in a conversation with Cllr Foulkes Election Expenses Return Part 1/2

After I published Cllr Foulkes’ election expenses return last year I agreed with him to publish mine too. Sadly as I had a broken arm, much of it was done (as are most people’s) by their election agent. However, it seems ok with me, but if anyone has any queries, please contact me or Leonora. They’re also on a public register at Wallasey Town Hall for the next two years too. As you can see from my signature on the candidate declaration you can see how bad my handwriting was two weeks after I broke my arm. Then there’s the agent declaration. Leonora actually made a mistake here as she put “Leonora Brace” instead of “John Brace” for the candidate’s name (TBH the forms do get confusing and she was stressed out caring for me), so it had to be redone. However she used blue ink the second time instead of black. Links to the first half of the rest is below. If I number them from 1-14, the following are blank or contain £NIL figures, but I’m sure you wish to see them anyway:- Page 5 (A ADVERTISING) Page 8 (C TRANSPORT) Page 9 (D PUBLIC MEETINGS) Page 10 (E AGENT AND OTHER COSTS) Page 11 (F ACCOMMODATION AND ADMINISTRATION) Page 12 (Unpaid Claims) Page 13 (Disputed Claims) Page 14 (Donations you have received) For the exciting other six pages I will upload another day as 9 A4 sides is enough for one day and it’s time for bed. It’s mainly very dull anyway covering factual stuff such as the ward name, candidate name, agent name, number of people who could vote etc….   The second part of this blog post is here.

Audit Commission Report on Wirral Council (public interest report)

Public Interest Report written by the Audit Commission about Wirral Council’s procurement process for the provision of highway and engineering services in 2008/09.

There have been a number of readers interested in the public interest report published by the Audit Commission. Links to it and related material are below.

The 24-page report (as a pdf file) entitled “Wirral Council: Report in the public interest” . ED – 29th December 2013 This link previously linked to the Audit Commission’s website. However the Audit Commission is in the process of being abolished so the previous link now points to a copy of the public interest report hosted on this blog.

The Wirral Council press release about it dated 8th June 2012 ED – 29th December 2013 The press release relating to the public interest report is no longer available on Wirral Council’s website and merely returns an “Access denied” page.

A page on the Audit Commission website specifying the report is about Wirral Council’s procurement process for the provision of highway and engineering services in 2008/09 *This previously linked to a page on the Audit Commission’s website. However the page is no longer there as the Audit Commission is in the process of being abolished.

There have also been a number of press articles about it, Twitters etc… I’m pretty sure it’ll be discussed at the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting on Thursday too, based on the tweet of a Labour councillor.