Planning applications (Bidston & St. James ward) 3 Lighthouse Cottages, Boundary Road APP/11/00388, PPS Service, 157-159 Laird Street, APP/11/00511, 7 Gautby Road, APP/11/00590, (Claughton ward) Flaybrick Hill Reservoir, Boundary Road, APP/11/00468

Unusually there have been three planning applications decided by Wirral Council officers recently in Bidston & St. James ward (all approved) between 7th July and 27th July and one approved near the Bidston & St. James ward boundary with Claughton ward. These are detailed below (source is item 14 on next Tuesday’s Planning Committee agenda. … Continue reading “Planning applications (Bidston & St. James ward) 3 Lighthouse Cottages, Boundary Road APP/11/00388, PPS Service, 157-159 Laird Street, APP/11/00511, 7 Gautby Road, APP/11/00590, (Claughton ward) Flaybrick Hill Reservoir, Boundary Road, APP/11/00468”

Unusually there have been three planning applications decided by Wirral Council officers recently in Bidston & St. James ward (all approved) between 7th July and 27th July and one approved near the Bidston & St. James ward boundary with Claughton ward.

These are detailed below (source is item 14 on next Tuesday’s Planning Committee agenda.

Links are provided for further information

Application No.: APP/11/00388 Application Type: Full Planning Permission

Decision Level: Delegated Decision
Ward: Bidston and St James

Decision Date: 27/07/2011 Decision: Approve
Case Officer: Mr M Rushton
Applicant: Dr Stephen Pickles Agent: Powis Hughes Chartered Surveyors

Location: 3 Lighthouse Cottages, BOUNDARY ROAD, BIDSTON, CH43 7RA

Proposal: A change of use application in respect of cottages of the lighthouse cottages at bidston conservatory, the current planning use is ‘office’ although the nature of existing occupation is residential. The property is residential in character the change of use application is to reverse a previous change of use granted in 1981

Application No.: APP/11/00468 Application Type: Full Planning Permission
Decision Level: Delegated

Ward: Claughton
Decision Date: 11/07/2011 Decision: Approve
Case Officer: Mr K Spilsbury
Applicant:

Agent: Brock Carmichael Architects
Location: Flaybrick Hill Reservoir, Boundary Road,Bidston, Wirral CH43 7PE
Proposal: Application to develop land for 4no. detached residential dwellings on the site of an existing water tower and pumphouse

Application No.: APP/11/00511 Application Type: Full Planning Permission
Decision Level: Delegated
Ward: Bidston and St James
Decision Date: 22/07/2011 Decision: Approve
Case Officer: Miss K Elliot
Applicant: Mrs W C Liu Agent: Niall Patterson Associates
Location: PPS Services, 157-159 LAIRD STREET, BIRKENHEAD, CH41 0AA
Proposal: Change of use A5 (hot food takeaway), alterations to shop front and rear extract flues.

Application No.: APP/11/00590 Application Type: Full Planning Permission
Decision Level: Delegated
Ward: Bidston and St James
Decision Date: 13/07/2011 Decision: Approve
Case Officer: Miss K Elliot
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Farr Agent: Niall Patterson Associates
Location: 7 GAUTBY ROAD, BIDSTON, CH41 7DS
Proposal: Proposed alterations and two storey side extension to house.

Wirral Council’s Cabinet meeting (21st July 2011) – the highlights – Grange Road West Sports Centre to transfer to Birkenhead Community Development Committee

Highlights of decisions of Wirral Council’s Cabinet meeting of the 21st July 2011

Here’s a quick rundown of what has been reported to ( the Labour Cabinet (Wirral Council) of the 21st July 2011:-

  • Under-age sales of alcohol during test purchases up (22%), which is 7% above target
  • % reduction in under-18 conception rate (-13%), target is -50%
  • Energy efficiency using software to shut computers down when not in use to save £80,000. Software hasn’t been installed but it costs £50,000.
  • Disposal of assets (expected to save £481,000) delayed (Pacific Road, Tramway Museum, Beechwood Community Centre etc)
  • Electronic payment for procurement delayed
  • Office rationalisation not meeting expected savings targets
  • % of council invoices from SMEs paid by Wirral Council within 10 days 45% (15% below a target of 60%)
  • Budget projected shortfall up to £25 million (from £20.8 million)
  • Mapleholme, Poulton House and 96 Manor Road to be auctioned off
  • Meadowcroft to go to Age UK (formerly Age Concern)
  • Westminster House to be sold to Wirral Partnership Homes for less than the £1.9 million originally agreed
  • Wirral Council’s contract procedure rules changed as the previous ones were criticised by the Audit Commission for not promoting fairness, quality, value for money and competition and to allow in-house bids (something the unions have been lobbying for for some time)
  • An extra £267,447 to resurface the Dock Links Road bringing the cost of this project to £1.1 million.

So where are Labour going to find £25 million of cuts or is that a mystery to be solved on another evening?

Wirral Council – Wirral Council 23rd May 2011 – Part 10 – speech (Cllr Lesley Rennie) on leader motion/amendment

Cllr Rennie next to speak said “If it was true [in relation to the Foulkesworld Twitter account] she was really worried, however she thought it was the product of a twisted mind. She said there had been signs of progress and that never before had the Council, staff, officers and residents worked together. She said they had run things in an open and transparent manner and hoped it would continue. Never in [Wirral Council’s] previous history had there been such a wide consultation exercise. The wishes of the people had been carried out or if impossible they had been written to. The next administration had to engage openly and honestly. Cllr Green’s leadership had supported a strong and able Cabinet with the support of the Liberal Democrats. However not here today were three Lib Dem former Cabinet members [Gill Gardiner, Bob Moon, Simon Holbrook]. She was concerned that a new administration would take Wirral Council back to the “bad old days” driven by dogma.

She said whenever a party is in government that members of that party who are local councillors suffer. She referred to John Major telling Conservative councillors in 1995 to take a sabbatical and that it may be a while. After 24 years, Wirral Council was Conservative led, run for the people of Wirral. She took a dim view of the Lib Dems and said there were not nine empty seats as there had been in 1991. She said she couldn’t imagine they were elected to Wirral Council to sit on their hands. Cllr Rennie repeated they were not elected to sit on their hands, but thought perhaps they had lost the glue that kept them together under the strong leadership of Simon Holbrook, deputy leader Gill Gardiner, Bob Moon and Stuart Kelly (who had been to one Cabinet meeting). She said it would be a shame to be tearing things apart when they had been willing to challenge when necessary.

Wirral Council – Wirral Council 23rd May 2011 – Part 8 – speech (Cllr Stuart Kelly) on leader motion/amendment

Cllr Stuart Kelly said he had heard what the Conservatives were saying. However it was frankly not enough to address and debate, when this should’ve been done in the closing weeks of the local election campaign. The points that had been made should’ve been put to the people. However the people had spoken. He thanked Cllr Ian Lewis for not mentioning him. Cllr Dave Mitchell also thanked him too. Cllr Kelly said that people vote for a raft of reasons. He said it was said many people voted for reasons that were not linked to success or otherwise but that was the way democracy was. The voters however knew best.

However, there were two critical things, the number of votes and the number of seats commanded. If they [Labour] had slightly more seats then they would have the critical seats needed for the formula. On both counts the Labour Party was the party with the most votes and seats. Wirral Council had invited the public to tell us and they had said No to AV and that they prefer FPTP. He said they must respect this. He referred to the Localism Bill and pointed out the opportunity to reconsider local government structure. He said a “strong leader [model]” was not for us and doesn’t work with a balanced Council. There was the option to reform the committee system to involve more councillors in the issues that had all-party support. He said he had not been in the Cabinet very long, but recognised its achievements and the way forward.

Wirral Council (Annual Meeting) Part 1 – Acceptance speech by Mayor Moira McLaughlin (HD)

Here’s the second part of the footage regarding the Annual Meeting, this time in HD.

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Here’s the last part of the footage containing the last bit of Mayor Moira McLaughlin’s speech and the installation of Cllr Gerry Ellis as Deputy Mayor.

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