Tommy Dunne tells Liverpool City councillors about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, “At that time I had to hold out my hands and they put a diagnosis in one hand and in the other they put a superpower. That superpower was the ability to become invisible in society. Nothing has changed in the past seven years, I am still invisible.”

Tommy Dunne tells Liverpool City councillors about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, “At that time I had to hold out my hands and they put a diagnosis in one hand and in the other they put a superpower. That superpower was the ability to become invisible in society. Nothing has changed in the past seven years, I am still invisible.”

Tommy Dunne tells Liverpool City councillors about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, “At that time I had to hold out my hands and they put a diagnosis in one hand and in the other they put a superpower. That superpower was the ability to become invisible in society. Nothing has changed in the past seven years, I am still invisible.”

                               

Tommy Dunne addresses Liverpool City Council 16th January 2019 on disability
Tommy Dunne addresses Liverpool City Council 16th January 2019 on disability

Yesterday before the public meeting of Liverpool City Council there was a protest outside Liverpool Town Hall about greenspace issues.

Amplified speeches to the protest were about injustice, suffering and threats to local greenspaces by Liverpool City Council.

The protestors are concerned (amongst other things) about an upcoming public meeting on Friday 18th January 2019 starting at 5.00 pm in the Council Chamber at Liverpool Town Hall to carry out pre-decision scrutiny of a Liverpool City Council Cabinet recommendation about land at St James Place EDITED 18.1.19 – Liverpool City Council has now cancelled this meeting.
Continue reading “Tommy Dunne tells Liverpool City councillors about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, “At that time I had to hold out my hands and they put a diagnosis in one hand and in the other they put a superpower. That superpower was the ability to become invisible in society. Nothing has changed in the past seven years, I am still invisible.””

In scenes of dog-whistle politics which councillors recommended (8:7) that Cabinet withdraws its unpopular Dog Control Public Space Protection Order proposals?

In scenes of dog-whistle politics which councillors recommended (8:7) that Cabinet withdraws its unpopular Dog Control Public Space Protection Order proposals?

In scenes of dog-whistle politics which councillors recommended (8:7) that Cabinet withdraws its unpopular Dog Control Public Space Protection Order proposals?

                                    

Committee Rooms 1 and 2 were full of members of the public to hear and see what happened Wallasey Town Hall Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee 15th January 2019
Committee Rooms 1 and 2 were full of members of the public to hear and see what happened, Wallasey Town Hall (Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee) 15th January 2019

Councillors on Wirral Council’s Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee in a sensational 8:7 vote, voted in favour of a Conservative amendment proposed by Cllr Chris Blakeley to recommend that Cabinet withdraw its proposals for a Dog Control Public Space Protection Order.

Earlier at the start of the meeting, in a discussion on moving the public meeting to the Civic Hall, the Chair Cllr Tony Jones had suggested ending the Council’s webcast for the rest of the meeting, yet had to smile when a dog interrupted him howling sadly at his suggestion.
Continue reading “In scenes of dog-whistle politics which councillors recommended (8:7) that Cabinet withdraws its unpopular Dog Control Public Space Protection Order proposals?”

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?”

Letter from the Wirral – audio podcast – episode #1 New Ferry Trial 13th January 2019

Letter from the Wirral – audio podcast – episode #1 New Ferry Trial 13th January 2019

Letter from the Wirral – audio podcast – episode #1 New Ferry Trial 13th January 2019

                                 

Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts (Liverpool Crown Court), Derby Square, Liverpool, L2 1XA (5th January 2019)
Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts (Liverpool Crown Court), Derby Square, Liverpool, L2 1XA (5th January 2019)

Below is a transcript of a new audio series I’m starting this year, the topic of our first one is a conversation between myself and our criminal justice correspondent about the trial last week.

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Letter from the Wirral – audio podcast – episode #1 New Ferry Trial 13th January 2019

The focus on a criminal justice case (the first two days of the trial of what happened in New Ferry) came about as a result of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s Bureau Local project and specifically the open newsroom last year on “What are the challenges with accessing court information and reporting on them?” as I realised that there needed to be a field test to understand things better.

I did as a journalist challenge one of the restricted reporting orders on this listing for this case (one of which has now been removed as it didn’t exist and was a clerical error). The official and extremely polite response back was I quote, “it was a clerical error, the reporting restrictions in the case are as per the order handed to you yesterday. Thank you for taking the time to point out this error to the Court.”
Continue reading “Letter from the Wirral – audio podcast – episode #1 New Ferry Trial 13th January 2019”

How much do Kingdom Services Group Limited receive in £££s for issuing fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling on the Wirral in 2019?

How much do Kingdom Services Group Limited receive in £££s for issuing fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling on the Wirral in 2019?

How much do Kingdom Services Group Limited receive in £££s for issuing fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling on the Wirral in 2019?

                                             

Leaked information about Wirral Council’s controversial 3 year contract with Kingdom Services Group Limited has revealed the amounts in pounds that Kingdom receive for issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), the hourly rate for environmental enforcement work and work on skip permits.

Kingdom Day Rates Wirral Council environmental enforcement skip permits 2018 to 2021
Kingdom Day Rates Wirral Council environmental enforcement skip permits 2018 to 2021

The amounts also include enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders (such as the proposed Dog Control Public Space Protection Order to be discussed on Tuesday evening).

The hourly rates for an Environmental Enforcement Officer are below:

Year 1 – £18.00 to £20.00 (depending on time of day)
Year 2 – £18.45 to £20.50 (depending on time of day)
Year 3 – £18.91 to £21.00 (depending on time of day)
Continue reading “How much do Kingdom Services Group Limited receive in £££s for issuing fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling on the Wirral in 2019?”