Who are the 113 candidates in the 2014 Wirral Council elections?

Who are the 113 candidates in the 2014 Wirral Council elections?

Who are the 113 candidates in the 2014 Wirral Council elections?

                          

My polling card for the 2014 election (Bidston & St. James ward)
My polling card for the 2014 election to Wirral Council (Bidston & St. James ward)

The nomination period for anyone wishing to stand as a candidate in the elections to become a councillor at Wirral Council closed yesterday. As usual elections in each of the twenty-two wards on Wirral are all being contested. Voters in Greasby, Frankby & Irby ward will elect two councillors due to the recent resignation of Tony Cox. Wards are listed alphabetically, then the candidates alphabetically by surname. If you are unsure what ward you live in you can enter your postcode here or check your polling card.

Name of ward Name of candidate Description
Bebington Des Drury The Conservative Party Candidate
Bebington Peter Leslie Faulkner Liberal Democrats
Bebington Hilary Jane Jones UK Independence Party
Bebington Anthony Smith Green Party
Bebington Walter Smith Labour Party Candidate
Bidston & St. James Colin Dignam-Gill Green Party
Bidston & St. James Geoffrey Peter Dormand The Conservative Party Candidate
Bidston & St. James Ann Rose Catherine McLachlan Labour Party Candidate
Bidston & St. James Greg North Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts
Bidston & St. James Cathy Williams UK Independence Party
Bidston & St. James Roy John Wood Liberal Democrat
Birkenhead & Tranmere Pat Cleary Green Party
Birkenhead & Tranmere June Irene Cowin The Conservative Party Candidate
Birkenhead & Tranmere Brian Kenny Labour Party Candidate
Birkenhead & Tranmere Laurence John Sharpe-Stevens UK Independence Party
Bromborough Sue Colquhoun UK Independence Party
Bromborough Penelope Ruth Golby Liberal Democrats
Bromborough Percy Hogg Green Party
Bromborough Peter Charles Taylor Conservative Party Candidate
Bromborough Irene Williams Labour Party Candidate
Clatterbridge Matthew James Donnelly Liberal Democrats
Clatterbridge Jenny Holliday Labour Party Candidate
Clatterbridge Roger Laurence Jones UK Independence Party
Clatterbridge Tracy Ann Smith The Conservative Party Candidate
Clatterbridge Colin William Thompson Green Party
Claughton Paul Thomas Cartlidge Green Party
Claughton Philip William Barrington Griffiths UK Independence Party
Claughton Denise Elizabeth Roberts Labour Party Candidate
Claughton Barbara Vera Sinclair The Conservative Party Candidate
Claughton Chris Teggin Liberal Democrat
Eastham Ryan Bingham UK Independence Party
Eastham Christopher David Carubia Liberal Democrats
Eastham Oliver George Downing Green Party
Eastham Keith Ross Jack Conservative Party Candidate
Eastham Mike Thompson Labour Party Candidate
Greasby, Frankby & Irby Tom Anderson Conservative Party Candidate
Greasby, Frankby & Irby Wendy Clements Conservative Party Candidate
Greasby, Frankby & Irby John Peter Cresswell Liberal Democrat
Greasby, Frankby & Irby Laurence Creswell Jones UK Independence Party
Greasby, Frankby & Irby Julie McManus Labour Party Candidate
Greasby, Frankby & Irby Cathy Page Green Party
Greasby, Frankby & Irby Peter Timothy Clifford Reisdorf Liberal Democrat
Greasby, Frankby & Irby Lee Anthony Rushworth Labour Party Candidate
Heswall Barbara Florence Burton Green Party
Heswall Michael Charles Holliday Labour Party Candidate
Heswall Les Rowlands The Conservative Party Candidate
Heswall David Anthony Scott UK Independence Party
Heswall David Robert Tyrrell Liberal Democrats
Hoylake & Meols Eddie Boult Conservative Party Candidate
Hoylake & Meols Pat Glasman Labour Party Candidate
Hoylake & Meols Joseph Michael McDowell Liberal Democrat
Hoylake & Meols Yvonne McGinley Green Party
Hoylake & Meols George David Robinson UK Independence Party
Leasowe & Moreton East David Michael Dubost Green Party
Leasowe & Moreton East Treena Ann Johnson Labour Party Candidate
Leasowe & Moreton East Ian Lewis Local Conservatives
Leasowe & Moreton East Frank Naylor Whitham UK Independence Party
Liscard Daniel Clein Liberal Democrats – For A Fairer Britain
Liscard Matthew Daniel Labour Party Candidate
Liscard Ann Lavin Local Conservatives
Liscard Craig John Reynolds Green Party
Liscard Lynda Ellen Williams UK Independence Party
Moreton West & Saughall Massie Bruce Berry Local Conservatives
Moreton West & Saughall Massie Karl Gerard Greaney Labour Party Candidate
Moreton West & Saughall Massie Perle Winifred Sheldricks Green Party
Moreton West & Saughall Massie Susan Jane Whitham UK Independence Party
New Brighton Dr. John Duncan Brown UK Independence Party
New Brighton John Howe Green Party
New Brighton Tony Pritchard Local Conservatives
New Brighton Christine Spriggs Labour Party Candidate
Oxton Alan Brighouse Liberal Democrat
Oxton Angela Joy Davies Labour Party Candidate
Oxton Peter Hartley The Conservative Party Candidate
Oxton Liz Heydon Green Party
Oxton David Martin UK Independence Party
Pensby & Thingwall Allen John Burton Green Party
Pensby & Thingwall Damien William Cummins Liberal Democrat Focus Team
Pensby & Thingwall Jan Davison UK Independence Party
Pensby & Thingwall Denis Thomas Knowles Conservative Party Candidate
Pensby & Thingwall Louise Ann Reecejones Labour Party Candidate
Prenton Jim Bradshaw UK Independence Party
Prenton Allan John Brame Liberal Democrat
Prenton Moira Joan Gommon Green Party
Prenton Hilary Margaret Jones Conservative Party Candidate
Prenton Denise Ann Realey Labour Party Candidate
Rock Ferry Karl Cummings Green Party
Rock Ferry Ann Flynn UK Independence Party
Rock Ferry Brian Joseph Hall Liberal Democrat
Rock Ferry Moira McLaughlin Labour Party Candidate
Rock Ferry Barbara Frances Poole The Conservative Party Candidate
Rock Ferry James Kenneth Pritchard Independent
Seacombe Jayne Louise Stephanie Clough Green Party
Seacombe Adrian Edward Rowland Jones Labour Party Candidate
Seacombe Karl Raymond Mercer Independent
Seacombe Suzanne Sheppick Local Conservatives
Seacombe Christopher John Wellstead UK Independence Party
Upton Geoffrey Robert Caton UK Independence Party
Upton Alan Davies Liberal Democrat
Upton Geoffrey Ian Gubb Conservative Party Candidate
Upton Jim McGinley Green Party
Upton Stuart Edward Whittingham Labour Party Candidate
Wallasey John Richard Codling Liberal Democrats
Wallasey Brian Farrell UK Independence Party
Wallasey Lesley Ann Rennie Local Conservatives
Wallasey Paul Ronayne Labour Party Candidate
Wallasey Cynthia Stonall Green Party
West Kirby & Thurstaston Charles Frederick Barnes Independent
West Kirby & Thurstaston Helen Louise Campbell Labour Party Candidate
West Kirby & Thurstaston David Evennett UK Independence Party
West Kirby & Thurstaston Jeff Green The Conservative Party Candidate
West Kirby & Thurstaston Shirley Ann Johnson Green Party
West Kirby & Thurstaston Mike Redfearn Liberal Democrat

You can find out the candidates’ home addresses and who proposed each candidate in the Statement of Persons Nominated.

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23 Wirral councillors to be elected after Tony Cox resigns; Graham Burgess fires starting gun in local election race

23 Wirral councillors to be elected after Tony Cox resigns; Graham Burgess fires starting gun in local election race

23 Wirral councillors to be elected after Tony Cox resigns; Graham Burgess fires starting gun in local election race

                                

On Monday Wirral Council’s Returning Officer started the election process by publishing the Notice of Election (a copy of it is below). Each ward in Wirral will be electing one councillor, except voters in Greasby, Franky & Irby ward who will be electing two councillors and therefore have two votes in the upcoming local elections.

The reason for this is that Tony Cox has resigned. As Tony Cox was less than two years through a four year term of office you may wonder why? The reason is that he’s been picked as the Conservative candidate for the General Election in Newcastle-under-Lyme and he felt that he couldn’t put his full energies into that without resigning as a councillor for Greasby, Frankby & Irby ward. The two Conservative candidates in Greasby, Frankby & Irby ward this year will be Councillor Wendy Clements and Tom Anderson. Tom Anderson was previously a councillor in Upton ward from 2008 to 2012 (with the lowest majority I remember in recent years of only four votes).

The full notice of election is below.

METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF WIRRAL

ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS

NOTICE OF ELECTION

For the Wards listed below

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT:

1. Elections are to be held for COUNCILLORS of the under mentioned Wards.

2. The number of COUNCILLORS to be elected is as shown in the Table hereunder:

Name of ward No. of COUNCILLORS to be elected Name of ward No. of COUNCILLORS to be elected
BEBINGTON 1 LISCARD 1
BIDSTON & ST JAMES 1 MORETON WEST & SAUGHALL MASSIE 1
BIRKENHEAD & TRANMERE 1 NEW BRIGHTON 1
BROMBOROUGH 1 OXTON 1
CLATTERBRIDGE 1 PENSBY & THINGWALL 1
CLAUGHTON 1 PRENTON 1
EASTHAM 1 ROCK FERRY 1
GREASBY, FRANKBY & IRBY 2 SEACOMBE 1
HESWALL 1 UPTON 1
HOYLAKE & MEOLS 1 WALLASEY 1
LEASOWE & MORETON EAST 1 WEST KIRBY & THURSTATON 1

                    
3. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Electoral Services Office, Ground Floor, Town Hall, Wallasey, during normal office hours, from Tuesday, 15th April 2014 to Thursday, 17th April 2014 and during normal office hours, from Tuesday, 22nd April 2014 to 4pm on Thursday, 24th April 2014. Forms of nomination papers may also be obtained at that place, during those times.

4. If the Elections are contested, the poll will take place on Thursday, 22nd MAY 2014.

5. Applications to be included in the register of electors must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the Town Hall, Wallasey by Tuesday, 6th May 2014, if they are to be effective for the election.

6. Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes and changes to proxy voting arrangements, must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the Town Hall, Wallasey by 5pm on Wednesday, 7th May 2014, if they are to be effective for this election.

7. All new applications to vote by proxy (except those applied for on relevant emergency grounds) must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the Town Hall, Wallasey by 5pm on Wednesday, 14th May 2014, if they are to be effective for the election.

8. All applications to vote by proxy on relevant emergency grounds (disability occurring after 5pm on Wednesday, 14th May 2014; grounds relating to applicant’s occupation, service or employment where the applicant became aware of those grounds after 5pm on Wednesday, 14th May 2014; or detention under civil powers as a mental health patient) must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the Town Hall, Wallasey by 5pm on Thursday, 22nd May 2014, if they are to be effective for the election.

DATED: Monday, 14th April
2014

Graham Burgess

LOCAL RETURNING OFFICER

Printed and Published by the Local Returning Officer, Town Hall, Wallasey, Wirral, CH44 8ED

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Was the recent flooding of New Brighton made worse by man-made dredging of the River Mersey?

Was the recent flooding of New Brighton made worse by man-made dredging of the River Mersey?

Was the recent flooding of New Brighton made worse by man-made dredging of the River Mersey?

                               

Halfway through November after having attended (instead of going to one of the fireworks displays across the Borough) a Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee at Wirral Council on Guy Fawkes’ Night I made a Freedom of Information Act request to Wirral Council for the briefing note that officers promised councillors about the effect of Peel’s dredging of the River Mersey on Wirral’s beaches.

The first reply stated I would have it by the 3rd December, then a further one by the 10th December, then on the 12th December they said they didn’t have one (making me think that was an end to it). On the 20th December I received an email telling me that the briefing note had gone out to councillors the day before. A copy of the briefing note was attached.

As it’s in the form of a Word document file, it doesn’t display in HTML correctly on the whatdotheyknow.com website, so I’ve included the briefing note below.

Briefing note requested by Members of the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee on 5 November 2013

1 Introduction

At the above meeting Members asked for a briefing note on dredging of the River Mersey and the Liverpool 2 proposals. This information is now provided in the narrative below and by reference to the documents which are available on the Marine Maritime Organisation’s web site. If any further information is required then please do not hesitate to let me know.

2 Dredging and Liverpool 2

In response to formal consultation from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) during September 2012, the Council noted that it’s own Coastal Strategy proposes continued maintenance of coastal protection infrastructure in the New Brighton/Egremont area and went to conclude based on the evidence provided, Wirral Council was satisfied that the proposed development will align satisfactorily with its terrestrial and marine plans and projects (see page 45 at: http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/licensing/public_register/cases/documents/liverpool2/consultation_responses.pdf). The application to the MMO was approved on 12 December 2012.  

Consequently, the Council has not raised any objection to the arrangements for dealing with the dredging that would arise from the Liverpool 2 project, which have been subject to environmental assessment (see pages 3 and 8 at: http://www.eib.europa.eu/attachments/pipeline/20120101_nts_en.pdf) .

David Ball

Head of Regeneration and Planning

19 December 2013

The first document linked to explains that in order to make the channel deep enough for “post-Panamax container vessels” that the depth of the channel will be increased from 6.9m to 8.0m to “enlarge the tidal window through which vessels will be able to access the quay” and the dredging was expected to “commence in late 2013” lasting six to nine months.

The dredging is being done using the rather wonderfully named “trailer suction hopper dredgers, cutter suction dredgers and backhoes”. Wirral Council’s response to the consultation on this is below.

Wirral Borough Council (WBC)
Further to your email, the following sets out the position in relation to the three questions in your email;

How does the development impact on existing infrastructure within Wirral Borough?
ANSWER The consultation material submitted with the MMO Licence application draws heavily on the Environmental Statement submitted with the original Harbour Revision Order application and Wirral Council is satisfied that the information provided, and subsequent discussions with Peel Ports/Royal Haskoning on the placement of monitoring equipment, give sufficient comfort to Wirral that the works to be consented under this licence application will have no detrimental impact on existing infrastructure within Wirral Borough.

How does the proposed development align with any existing Wirral Borough Council plans or projects
ANSWER There are no terrestrial projects that would be adversely impacted by the proposed development. The Council is supportive of the principle of the Seaforth Dock expansion given the strategic importance of the Port of Liverpool for Merseyside and the North West and the need to secure it’s long term competitive position in the face of competition from ports elsewhere in the UK and Europe and support objectives. Wirral Council is preparing a Core Strategy for the Borough and no proposals within the Core Strategy will be adversely impacted by the proposed development. The Strategic importance of the port is also recognised within the Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West. The Council is also consulting on a Coastal Strategy that proposes continued maintenance of coastal protection infrastructure in the New Brighton/Egremont area. From the evidence provided and the monitoring strategy proposed, Wirral Council is satisfied that the proposed development will align satisfactorily with its terrestrial and marine plans and projects.
The reports to the Council’s Cabinet/Select Committee previously emailed to you provide further context and detail, if required.

Any other comments on the proposed development
ANSWER Whilst not constituting an objection to the MMO Licence application, Neil Thomas’ email of 2nd November referred to the fact that Wirral Council is not satisfied with the initially proposed location of wave and current monitoring equipment. However, the Council is in discussion with Peel Ports/Royal Haskoning with regard to re-locating monitoring equipment closer to the coastal defences at New Brighton, within the Mersey Estuary, with the intention of providing a more effective means of monitoring the impact of the development on Wirral’s coastal defences and navigation within the Mersey Estuary.

What’s interesting in Wirral Council’s response to the consultation is that they state both “that the works to be consented under this licence application will have no detrimental impact on existing infrastructure within Wirral Borough” but also “the Council is in discussion with Peel Ports/Royal Haskoning with regard to re-locating monitoring equipment closer to the coastal defences at New Brighton, within the Mersey Estuary, with the intention of providing a more effective means of monitoring the impact of the development on Wirral’s coastal defences”.

So what does the environmental report state about the likely impact of this dredging on New Brighton? On page 16 it clearly states “The proposed scheme is predicted to have a minor adverse impact on tides and waves at New Brighton, MHDC have agreed to place a wave/current meter to monitor any changes in parameters which could affect this frontage. This measure forms part of a Deed of Agreement between MDHC and Natural England.”

All this of course leads to a number of questions (and I hope someone who knows more about this topic will leave a comment in answer to them).

1. Considering the above, was the recent flooding at New Brighton made worse by this dredging considering the “minor adverse impact on tides and waves at New Brighton” in the environmental report?

2. Why when the environmental report was available at the time of the consultation, did Wirral Council state in its response to the consultation “Wirral Council is satisfied that the information provided, and subsequent discussions with Peel Ports/Royal Haskoning on the placement of monitoring equipment, give sufficient comfort to Wirral that the works to be consented under this licence application will have no detrimental impact on existing infrastructure within Wirral Borough.” and that considering what Wirral Council knew about the vulnerability of Marine Point to flooding that “There are no terrestrial projects that would be adversely impacted by the proposed development.”?

3. Was the recent flooding of New Brighton made worse by man-made dredging of the River Mersey?

4. Which reports to Wirral Council’s Cabinet and committees were “previously emailed”?

5. Was the above known when planning consent was given for Marine Point and did the design of Marine Point take the above into account when considering flood risk?

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Merseytravel agree pilot of Liverpool City Centre bicycle hire scheme

A report on Merseytravel’s Annual Meeting held on the 27th June 2013 | Liverpool City Centre bicycle hire scheme

Bicycle

Merseytravel agree pilot of Liverpool City Centre bicycle hire scheme

Merseytravel councillors last month at its Annual Meeting agreed to start a pilot of a Liverpool City Centre bicycle hire scheme. A pilot will start this month and if successful the project for a larger scheme will go out to tender with the first phase rolled out in March 2014 (just in time for politicians to take credit for it in the upcoming local elections next May).

So, is Liverpool looking to copy London’s “Boris Bikes”? Will it be used by the locals or will it just mainly be used by the tourists?

On cycle related news, I spotted quadricycles being hired at New Brighton for £10 an hour recently. Certainly they seemed popular with the increasing number of tourists that are visiting New Brighton, so maybe Merseytravel can make it a success. Please leave your best bicycle related puns on Merseytravel’s new project as comments.

Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee (Wirral Council) 23/1/2012 Part 2

Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee (Wirral Council) 23/1/2012 Part 2

                                       

Present:

Conservative

Cllr Kate Wood
Cllr Sue Taylor
Cllr Ian Lewis
Cllr Tom Anderson

Labour

Cllr Bill Davies (Chair)
Cllr Irene Williams
Cllr Steve Niblock
Cllr Chris Jones
Cllr Patricia Glasman

Lib Dem

Absent


Cllr Bill Davies said he would make a start to the meeting and deal with the polling stations and Wirral Award first. He asked for any declarations of interest.

Cllr Steve Niblock declared a personal interest in item 5 as he knew the nominees and one of those nominated.

Cllr Ian Lewis declared a personal interest in item 3 as he is a councillor for Leasowe and Moreton East specifically in relation to polling district TC.

Cllr Ian Lewis also declared a personal interest in item 5 as two of the nominees were known to him.

Cllr Patricia Glasman declared a personal interest in item 3 as it mentions New Brighton ward.

Cllr Sue Taylor declared a personal interest in item 3 as it mentions New Brighton ward.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 10th November 2011 were agreed.

Cllr Chris Jones said she wanted to declare an interest, she declared a personal interest as she is a councillor in Seacombe ward.

Cllr Patricia Glasman declared an interest in item 5 as she knew one of the nominees.

The Committee then considered the report on Polling Districts and Polling Places. Surjit Tour said it was an update to the polling stations, which has been reviewed. Issues had been raised with polling districts WE and TC as they had required further work. The options related to the work.

For polling district TC the current polling place was Sacred Heart RC Primary School. Yew Tree Online Centre had been suggested as an alternative. Yew Tree Online Centre had previously been classed as unsuitable, however it had moved on and was now a suitable venue.

In Liscard ward, polling district WD Between2Worlds was an option or the YMCA. There were other alternative options that had been looked into too such as the Masonic Hall or Liscard Primary School.

The Chair said the panel had met on Friday and got feedback from ward councillors regarding the Yew Tree online centre.

Kate said they had received no feedback over the Yew Tree Online Centre, but Cllr Darren Dodd had sent them correspondence about Between2Worlds. Cllr Keeley wished to speak on this issue.

Cllr Steve Williams proposed that they agree the Yew Tree Online Centre as the polling station for polling district TC (Leasowe and Moreton East Ward). This was seconded by Cllr Patricia Glasman. All nine councillors voted in favour.

Cllr Keeley said he wanted to be brief, he was disappointed and felt that the polling station should be in the polling district. They had lost the YMCA which was a “crying shame”. He wanted a location that was good for drivers and on a bus route. As much as possible he wanted the committee to find a polling station as close as possible. He suggested the option of the Masonic Hall as it had a bus stop outside and a large car park.

The Chair thanked him for his comments.

Continues at Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee (Wirral Council) 23/1/2012 Part 3.