Wirral News - Hamilton Squared

He said, she said - gags and game playing at Wirral Council

2011-02-16T10:15:39Z

LABOUR say they were gagged last night over an attempt to scrutinise budget proposals - but the Conservatives have accused them of playing political games.

Labour called for a special meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee to "to investigate the impact of cuts on the people of Wirral".

But the meeting lasted a grand total of eight minutes, with the Conservatives and Lib Dems voting 7 to 3 to defer it to March 8 - after the budget is heard at full council.

Labour are furious and the accusations are flying thick and fast this morning - with leader Steve Foulkes calling it "outrageous" and a threat to the democracy of the council.

They wanted to ask questions about whether front line services are being protected after almost 500 staff were allowed to take voluntary redundancy - but the Conservatives say budget decisions can't be scrutinised when they haven't yet been to the full council's budget meeting.

Labour councillors were already smarting from last month, when part of the council's legal constitution was suspended at a full council meeting to block their threat of legal action over the budget.

Cllr Foulkes argued then that making decisions on a £48m savings plan without referral to scrutiny committees removed a key part of the democratic process.

Labour's Ann McLachlan told the meeting last night: "My response is that this is a totally outrageous position, that the purpose of calling this meeting was to provide an opportunity to scrutinise those decisions which have already been taken.

"Staff have already left this authority. It is the democratic right of councillors to be able to scrutinise decisions in terms of what arrangements have been put in place to continue to provide services for the people of Wirral.

"It's about events that have already happened."

The Conservatives responded by saying Labour should speak to council officers if they need more information and not waste their time by calling meetings.

Cllr John Hale, who chaired last night's meeting, said: "They're playing politics.What they were trying to do was use the meeting to find out what the budget announcements would be in the next couple of weeks and they're not entitled to.

"I've been on the council for over 35 years and the leader, whether they're in Labour, the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats, has never revealed their plans until the actual meeting and nobody would expect them to.

"What's more, they were interfering with the process. The people responsible for preparing the budget are engaged in all sorts of intensive meetings leading up to it in what's a very difficult situation nationally.

"To take officers away from that process to answer questions that could have been answered - I just think they're trying to undermine the budget.

"All they had to do was ask officers for a briefing if they had any questions, which is what we always had to do."

Tea, but no biscuits

2011-01-12T13:22:39Z

Burton's has announced its proposals to shut their Moreton biscuit factory with the loss of 342 jobs.

The site is shared with Typhoo and Burton's - makers of Jammie Dodgers, Wagon Wheels and Maryland Cookies among others - insists this move will not affect its neighbour, though that is of little consequence to the hundreds of workers who face losing their jobs at a difficult time.

Wallasey MP Angela Eagle has described this as a "devastating blow" for the area, and said although the company has presented this as a proposal their body language during meetings suggested to her they will press ahead with the plan

Late last year council leader Jeff Green, along with chief executive Jim Wilkie and Angela Eagle met with the company to try to convince them to retain the Moreton site.

Staff who were heading in for the afternoon shift and faced the official announcement from the company had already been told by colleagues what was in store.

Production was stopped for the day and everyone was being sent home after the announcements, but staff were upset and angry, with some in tears.

Before security guards curtailed interviews, they managed to say they believed the Moreton site was profitable, and one said: "We support the other factories, in Blackpool and Llantarnam. It's a big site but it makes money."

Another said: "We can't understand whey they are shutting this, it's a good factory."

Ms Eagle said the company, which has been through several changes of ownership had missed a golden opportunity to cut its cost base for the large site back in 2001 when there were options to reduce the scale of the Moreton factory and make it more competitive.

She said the then owners had "failed to engage" and said people were now faced with the prospect of losing their livelihoods as a result.

Burton's now plans to develop its sites in Wales and Scotland - where she said they were in talks with the Scottish government over grants for the Edinburgh factory.

She said: "They have decided to go to Scotland. They seem very determined to press ahead with this.

"We want to see the figures and will angage with them, but you get the sense they are pretty determined to do this. They are in discussions to have Government grants in Scotland, and I said maybe there is something we can do down here, but they effectively said no chance.

"It's devastating for the people who work there. Generations of people have worked at that site. It's the largest private sector employer in my constituency, and this comes at a time when the council is competing to see how many jobs they can get rid of.

"We have got very tough times ahead now, but I will do everything in my power to help."

Neil Grocock, chief supply chain officer at Burton's Foods said it was a "regrettable" decision at a time when although the company is growing in sales it faces "significant cost pressures" such as a doubling in the price of cocoa, 60% increase in flour and other cost increases.

He said the Moreton factory lost Â£5million last year and was predicted to lose Â£7million this year and said: "The cost of business here is higher than other sites, about four times. And productions cost is about two times higher."

He said: "These are a set of proposals and now we want to enter into consultation with our employees and other stake holders." He said this was now an opportunity for the company "to be challenged". He said: "Other people may have other ideas."

However, he said the company had looked at other options, including shutting other sites.

Wirral Council Leader, Cllr Jeff Green said after the annoucement: "I am incredibly disappointed by this proposal and will be seeking an urgent meeting with Burton's to examine and discuss the reason behind their decision.

"I also wish to investigate whatever opportunities there are to continue to work with the company to secure jobs in Wirral and the future of the site.

"The Council has invested large amounts of time and money over recent years to support and modernise this factory and we stand ready to do so again.

"I do not believe that Burton's will find a more committed, skilled and flexible workforce than has been demonstrated here at Moreton. My personal priority is the men and women who will be affected by this decision and we will do everything possible to help them to secure their future."

The search continues...

2011-01-10T14:33:14Z

RUMOURS that the search for a new chief executive has been abandoned at Wirral Council have been scotched by the authority's leader.

Word had reached Hamilton Squared that the headhunters had been called off and there was a distinct lack of action in the search for a permanent replacement for Steve Maddox who left last year.

Former deputy chief executive Jim Wilkie had been appointed interim chief exec for nine months and a number of other interim appointments made - the so-called >"fat cats".

But the word emanating from the rumour mill suggested little was being done towards making a permanent apppintment at the top, and time was passing.

Speaking from outside Cafe Nero at Euston Station, on his way to a reception at 10 Downing Street, council leader Jeff Green insisted the chief executive's job was not a "done deal".

Cllr Green said the process of seeking a permanent chief executive would start after the budget process was completed.

He said: "We will be advertising and looking for people who want to be chief executive.

"We have been sorting out the consultation and issues about finance and we're now gettong on with the budget. We want to get that all behind us and then we can focus on getting the chief executive position sorted out. The search has certainly not been called off.

"That is no reflection on Jim Wilkie, who will be a strong candidate. But we have to open ourselves up and see what is out there, but we will take out time and make sure we get the right person."

Labour threatens legal action over council budget projections

2010-12-14T16:19:51Z

THERE was high drama at last night's full council meeting after Labour threatened to force a judicial review over the Con/Lib Dem coalition's Â£48m programme of savings.

The Conservatives are pointing to their massive public consultation exercise (Wirral's Future: Be a Part of It), saying it was taxpayers who helped set the priorities.

But Labour are unhappy - they think it should have had more scrutiny by council committees and are accusing council leader Jeff Green of trying to force decisions through

Before the meeting at Wallasey Town Hall Labour's solicitors sent the council's Director of Law Bill Norman a letter saying they would "reserve the right to make application to the Court to judicially review such a decision of the Council on the basis that the Council will have acted unlawfully".

The Conservatives responded by voting to suspend part of the council's constitution on budget and policy framework procedures during a budget debate at a meeting of the full council.

The budget projections were then voted through by the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition.

The accusations are flying thick and fast. Labour are furious and leader Steve Foulkes (never one to shy away from a good quote) has accused the Conservatives of running a "Third world Banana Republic".

For their part, the Conservatives are talking up the consultation process - and say Labour are in denial about the problems Wirral is facing.

Headed URGENT BY FAX, here's the text of the letter Labour's solicitors sent to Bill Norman yesterday:

Dear Mr Norman,

Association of Labour Councillors

We represent the Association of Labour Councillors and have been approached by the leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Steve Foulkes.

We refer to the decision taken by the Executive Committee on 9th December 2010 which, we understand, relates to Cabinet proposals for changes to the 2011/2012 budget, due to be considered at the full council meeting this evening, 13th December 2010.

It has been drawn to our attention that you have informed the Labour Group that the Council does not intend to refer the recommendations for the alterations to the budget, to overview and scrutiny processes.

We are sure you are aware of the constitutional requirements which were brought to your attention in a letter from Councillor Foulkes on the 9th December 2010.

The Guidance to English Authorities, following the 2000 Local Government Act which referred to "New Council Constitutions", sets out clearly that each Local Authority must have a written constitution. The Guidance also emphasised, as I am sure you are aware (see paragraph 3.15 of the Guidance) that to achieve enhanced accountability and transparency of the decision making process, effective overview and scrutiny is essential. Overview and Scrutiny Committees are the key element of executive arrangements. Their roles therefore should include both developing and reviewing policy and holding the executive to account.

The Guidance goes on to specify how arrangements with regard to overview and scrutiny should be set out in the executive arrangements as part of the consitutionm as the framework against which all Council's decisions are taken.

We have been informed that you do not consider that there is any obligation on the Council to comply with the following paragraph of your constitution:

The Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules 2b states:

"Where an overview and scrutiny is not scheduled before the next Council after the Cabinet has made budget proposals, any objections to the proposals should be indicated by notice to "The Monitoring Officer" in advance of any Council in order to allow more time to call a special meeting of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Where there is not sufficient time to consult the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee before a meeting of the Council, then any decision that fails to achieve all party support will be referred back by Council to to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee for scrutiny. The Cabinet will take any response, where one is submitted, from an Overview and Scrutiny Committee into account in drawing up firm proposals for submissions to the Council and its report to Council will reflect the comments made by consultees and the Cabinet's response to those comments".

We have been informed by our Members that in your view because the budget has not been set to date, this part of the constitution does not apply to the decision made by the executive on Thursday and the proposals for this evening's meeting.

We wish to challenge your assertion. The Guidance referred to above, again states

the term budget is used to encompass the budget requirement (as provided for in the Local Government Finance Act 1992) or the components of the budget, such as the budgetary allocation to different services and projects, proposed taxation levels, contingency funds (reserves and balances) and any plan or strategy for the control of the Local Authority's borrowing or capital expenditure".

Paragraph 2.28 of the Guidance, referred to states

"The executive should adopt an inclusive approach to preparing the draft budget, plans and strategies, and policy development more generally".

It also states that Overview and Scrutiny Committees should also play an integral part in policy development and the executive should consult such committees regularly in the process of preparing the draft budget and draft plans and strategies.

We consider that should the Council fail to comply with the requirements of their constitution, which are in turn compliant with the statutory requirements for overview and scrutiny, any actions that the Council take will be deemed to be ultra vires. Thus we wish to put you on notice that should the Council choose to ignore the requirements of its constitution, we consider that the budget proposals which it adopts would be deemed to be the end product of a process that it ultra vires and the budget it sets unlawful.

We reserve the right to make application to the Court to judicially review such a decision of the Council on the basis that the Council will have acted unlawfully and we will ask the Court for leave to make such an application on the grounds of illegality and, in the second instance, on the grounds of procedural impropriety.

We request that you give this matter your urgent consideration and revert to us by return.

Frances Randle
STEEL & SHAMASH

Wirral Waters gets Government go-ahead

2010-11-29T14:18:31Z

Wirral Waters will be getting the go ahead, Wirral Council has said.

Cllr Jeff Green, leader of the council, said he has received a letter from Secretary of State Eric Pickles confirming he will not calll in the planning application for a public inquiry.

The Â£4.5 billion scheme is one of the largest planning applications in the country and could transform Wirral's dockland areas.

Cllr Green said he was "absolutely delighted" by the news which means Peel can press ahead with marketing their proposals.

Cllr Green added: "The time I spent in China recently, there was considerable interest in Peel's plans.

"They can now start converting that interest in to full end uers."

For more info, see Tuesday's Daily Post

Labour ups the ante

2010-11-22T13:21:04Z

ACCUSING the Tory-led administration of "sleep walking" towards a disaster in Wirral Council, Labour is ratcheting up the pressure on the borough's Conservative Lib Dem administration.

The press release, below, accuses the ruling coalition of having failed to make decisions quickly enough to deal with the (part known, part assumed) oncoming onslaught of cuts.

It is likely that the Government will front-load its cuts on councils to ensure things seem less severe by the next General Election, assuming Cameron and Clegg stick it out to 2015.

We know Wirral is facing Â£30-plus million of cuts already, and we are still awaiting the Local Government Settlement in early December which many assume will increase that figure.

Labour' deputy leader, Cllr Phil Davies, says below that "there is no sign of any report detailing savings, or the restructuring of services" and says: "To reach their cuts target, they will actually have to stop providing a lot of the services the Council provides now. So far all they have stopped is sandwiches."

Read in full what Labour have to say, below:

Â Press Release from Cllr. Phil Davies Deputy Leader of the Wirral Labour Group.

Council will Axe Front Line Services.

Wirral's Director of Finance, Ian Coleman, admitted under questioning at Wirral's Council Excellence Committee that the budget shortfall for next year could rise to Â£45m once the details of the Local Government settlement are known.

Labour' deputy leader, Cllr Phil Davies, who put the questions, said after the meeting:

"There is no question now in my mind that the Council will be axing front line services. This figure confirms our worst fears. Â£45m is a staggering sum of money to find. When we were in power, it took three years to save Â£39m in a way that did not affect services. This administration is expecting to save forty five million in just three months.

At this late stage, it can't be done without inflicting massive damage on the people of Wirral, and there is still no sign of any decisions being taken. The promised report from the Task Forces has been postponed. The report on the Strategic Change programme has been postponed for anything up to three weeks. And there is no sign of any report detailing savings, or the restructuring of services, following the departure at the end of December of individuals who have agreed voluntary redundancy.

It's clear that this administration has absolutely no idea what it is doing. They have been so busy selling their political programme they have failed to realise they actually have to deliver on the cuts their government is making.

Wirral has to save a minimum of Â£108m over four years. The total Council wages and pensions bill, excluding teaching staff, is less than Â£150m. That means you could sack most of the staff and still only just make your savings total. To reach their cuts target, they will actually have to stop providing a lot of the services the Council provides now. So far all they have stopped is sandwiches.

Wake up Jeff. You are sleep walking your way to disaster."

"Sham" consultation? Labour steps up its attack... [with VIDEO]

2010-11-02T11:55:23Z

Labour have really started to mobilise opposition to the Conservative/Lib Dem administration's flagship consultation policy.

The video below shows how politics creates strange bedfellows with Labour group leader Cllr Steve Foulkes sharing a platform with Alec McFadden, the secretary of Wirral TUC - two men who have had some harsh words to say about each other in the not too distant past.

Although it has to be said it's not that long ago that Alec McFadden was working with the Conservatives over their joint opposition to Wirral's library closure plans.

Here's the video:

Here's Labour's motion at the scrutiny committee (mind out - it's lengthy), and below it their press release.

(The report in the following day's Daily Post is here)

Council Excellence Overview and Scrutiny Committee 28/10/10
Item 2 - Consultation Task Forces
This Committee believes that:
No account in drawing up the options was taken of the knowledge, experience and skills built up over time and held by councillors elected to represent the public.
The entire programme has been determined by the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council without input from Cabinet or Scrutiny.
The consultation process was therefore put in place without any regard for the checks and balances contained within the Council's Constitution and that, in so doing, the Council and individuals have been put at future risk.
Proper account was not taken of the professional survey skills required to construct a neutral questionnaire and provide a statistically valid sample which would be representative of the whole of Wirral and the result is an unbalanced and deeply flawed consultation exercise.
Questions have been fudged so the public cannot be sure whether services from the Council will actually stop, in favour of unfunded voluntary or private sector activity, or simply be replaced by commissioned or outsourced services.
The lack of any financial information or costings of the options being put forward, and the lack of any options allowing people to choose clearly between internally and externally provided services, renders them meaningless in budget terms.
This therefore appears not to be a budgetary exercise at all but a way of pushing forward Tory Party ideological propaganda that massive outsourcing of services to create a smaller state is always better, regardless of the cost in financial or human terms.
The validity of the whole exercise is now rightly being questioned by the people of Wirral.
This Committee also notes that, with little action taken, the budget shortfall has risen again to Â£33m and is likely to rise still further when the local government settlement is announced.
This Committee therefore recommends to Cabinet that:
The results of this flawed consultation are treated with extreme caution and not used as a true basis for any budget decisions.
Any future consultation of this nature using questionnaires is carried out in a neutral and statistically valid way, without political interference, using those professionally skilled in surveying public opinion.
The full consultation processes are approved through Cabinet and are subject to scrutiny in the normal way.
Task Forces outside the Council's Constitutional framework are not used but instead independent representatives are co-opted for the purpose onto the relevant Scrutiny Committee to work in conjunction with elected members to provide advice to Cabinet.
A guide to good practice in consultation is produced, with the appropriate external advice, in order to avoid future problems.
The Cabinet should take responsibility for decision making and act with all speed to reduce the budget deficit.

Labour have now issued a strongly worded press release reiterating their attack on the consultation from last week's scrutiny committee meeting to examine the consultation process - see that below:

The Labour press release:
Â
Council's "Sham" Consultation the challenges continue!
As the Council starts to analyse the questionnaires returned as part of the "Consultation Exercise" on budget cuts, questions continue to be asked about the validity of the exercise. There were angry scenes in last Thursday's meeting of the Council Excellence Committee where Labour's Deputy Leader challenged the "sham consultation" and the bias of the questions asked, the way the Task Forces were set up, and the "cosy club" of the Leader and Deputy Leader which was making decisions without any reference to Cabinet or the normal procedures in the Council's constitution.
Labour's Leader, Cllr Steve Foulkes, in a recent e-mail responding to a resident who complained:
I read with interest today an article in the Liverpool Daily Post regarding the above consultation exercise. It suggested that some 40,000 questionnaires have been distributed across the Wirral and approximately 10% of them had been returned to date. The article then went on to urge people to return their completed questionnaires prior to the deadline of Sunday 31st October.
As a resident of Claughton, should I have received a questionnaire? It seems ironic that the first I have heard of this exercise and the associated road shows, 116 of them, is through a Liverpool based newspaper.
Have the residents of Claughton been given the opportunity to have their say and is this reflected in the returns? I know I certainly haven't. I would very much appreciate your thoughts on this.
Labour's Leader, Cllr Steve Foulkes replied stating
"The questionnaire was apparently drawn up by the Council's press office following discussions by four Task Forces, the appointment of which remains shrouded in mystery, and in which councillors elected to represent the public interest had no input.
The questions in many cases are loaded, not neutral as they should be, and the form itself is extremely long and complicated. Members of the public have to physically obtain a copy or else they have to know about on-line versions of the form which are available on the Council's website. It is hardly surprising that the response rate has been so poor. To make matters worse, none of this has gone through any Council committee. It has been done instead by press release and diktats from the Tory-LibDem leadership, leading to the conclusion that this could be more of a propaganda exercise than a genuine attempt to find out what the public want."
END

New role for new West Wirral MP

2010-10-27T10:52:39Z

Following a secret ballot by back bench MPs Wirral West MP Esther McVey was elected to serve on the Parliamentary Justice Select Committee.

Miss McVey said she would use all her experience working with groups affected by crime in her new role.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been given the support of my fellow MP's and I hope to bring a community and victims perspective to the committee, having worked extensively with victims of crime for the last 10 years, either establishing or working closely with many organisations, such as the Madeline McCann Fund, Families fighting for Justice, Anthony Walker Foundation, OLLY'S, Phoenix Survivors, IMPACT and Mums against Guns.

The committee oversees the work of the Ministry of Justice which is one of the largest government departments, responsible for around 95,000 people (including the probation service) and a budget of Â£9.2 billion. It is also responsible for the Court system in England and Wales and spans criminal, civil and family justice, democracy, rights and the constitution.

The Ministry has responsibility for making new laws, strengthening democracy, modernising the constitution and safeguarding human rights.

"The Ministry of Justice aims to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public, and I hope that with my background in law, and through my direct involvement with victims' families on the ground, I can bring a new perspective to many of the issues that the committee will be looking into," added Miss McVey.

Leader's blog

2010-10-15T15:47:59Z

WIRRAL Council's leader Cllr Jeff Green has launched his blog (www.leaderofwirral.com).

We are told he will be blogging during his current visit to China. I know he will be less than pleased with me for saying this (so, sorry Jeff!) but maybe he will tell us what the hotel accommodation is like...

Although, to be fair he has said he will be contributing towards the cost of the trip which it is hoped will help bring Chinese investment to Wirral Waters.

In a press release, Jeff said: "I've seen how several colleagues keep in touch with their residents through their blogs and have been thinking about doing my own for a while.

"The visit to China seems like the perfect opportunity to start - I promised to report back on how the visit goes and, rather than rely solely on a report to the Cabinet, I think the blog will enable anyone to see what we are doing."

DASS director to leave Wirral Council

2010-10-15T11:53:39Z

Wirral's Director of Adult Social Services, John Webb, is to retire after six years service with Wirral Council.

Mr Webb, who joined Wirral Council in 2004 and became Director of Adult Social Services in 2007, has requested early voluntary retirement.

The announcement was made by Wirral's interim Chief Executive Jim Wilkie.

He said: 'I know that John cares deeply about social services in Wirral, and about the needs of vulnerable people. He will be missed by his colleagues, and the many partner and community organisations and individuals he has worked closely with.

'We wish him well for the future, and thank him for his hard work and dedication,' he added.

John Webb, Director of Adult Social Services, said: 'While there are areas for service improvement, specifically Safeguarding and LearningÂ Disabilities, Adult Social Services in Wirral has much to be proud of including many skilled, dedicated and able staff. The challenges are many and key decisions will require real courage if services are to move on as I believe they must.

'As a public servant my objective has always been to see services improve. I now believe that objective is best served by my departure allowing a fresh start, new thinking and energies to be applied to the demands ahead. I will miss many colleagues including those who have shared their time and wisdom with us on a voluntary basis and wish everyone well for the future.'

A recommendation will be made to Wirral Council's Employment and Appointments Committee on October 26 to approve the early voluntary retirement of John Webb, and the appointment of Howard Cooper, Director of Wirral's Children and Young People's Department, as Interim Director of Adult Social Services for up to nine months. It will also recommend that David Armstrong, Head of Planning and Resources with CYPD, is appointed as Interim Director of CYPD with effect from November 1st.

Lib Dems caught trying to poach Labour councillors

2010-10-05T14:23:00Z

Following a fairly blantant attempt to poach Labour councillors Wirral's Lib Dems have found themselves accused of using tax-payers' money in their bid to tempt away members from their former coalition partners.

A letter signed by the Lib Dem leader Simon Holbrook and his deputy Gill Gardiner was went out in a council mail run to newly elected Labour councillors urging them to defect.

The Lib Dem leadership's letter, Labour's response, and a notice of motion to the next full council by Labour are in full below the story.

In their letter, which follows the election of Ed Miliband as Labour leader, Cllrs Holbrook and Gardiner said: "As I'm sure you know elections are fought and won on the mainstream progressive ground of British Politics, ground currently occupied by the Liberal Democrats."

It says the Lib Dems are currently making the "tough but necessary decisions" on the economy, and claims Labour is now "sidelined to the wilderness for a generation" and calls on the councillors to "discuss in confidence" how they can help the Lib Dem cause.

But Labour have reacted with a forceful reply sent on behalf of the councillors targeted, accusing the Liberal Democrats of being "the lackeys of the Tory Party, helping to deliver the agenda of the extreme right wing of the Conservatives".

Their response described the Lib Dem letter as "an insult to the intelligence of our members" and added: "By getting into bed with the Tories both nationally and here in Wirral, the Liberal Democrats have shown that they are only interested in power.

"On Wirral this has been highlighted by the fact you actually jumped straight from a coalition with Labour to a coalition with the Tories, reversing your policies and beliefs even as you jumped."

However, Labour also raised the stakes with a notice of motion for the next full meeting of Wirral Council. The motion says: "Council is concerned that the Liberal Democrats have been reduced to using the council's Friday mail run in a vain and hopeless attempt to persuade fellow councillors from the Labour Group to join them on death row, as they face total extinction in the May elections."

It concludes: "Council would still appreciate the courtesy of a postage stamp on political mail rather than having it delivered at the council tax payers' expense."

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Leader of the Labour Group, said: "This smacks of total desperation. Going into a coalition with the Tories, nationally and locally here on Wirral has been a devastating mistake for the Liberal Democrats and they face being wiped out in the May elections.

"Throughout the country Liberal Democrats with a conscience are either defecting or are in private discussions with Labour colleagues on the possibility of defecting, and Wirral is no exception.

"This letter is really a last throw of the dice in a feeble attempt to reverse this trend.

"Of course, the real irony for them is that they were naÃ¯ve enough to think that going into a coalition with the Tories might help them keep their seats on West Wirral, when the absolute opposite is true.

"The Tories know the Liberal Democrats will lose seats to Labour at the next local elections, so they are looking to protect their party's position by adding to their seats in wards where they are currently second to the Liberal Democrats, precisely to balance Labour gains elsewhere.

"The Liberal Democrats claim to be a progressive party when they are actually backing the right wing regressive policies of a Tory party we all know and recognise from Thatcher's day.

"The voters will exact their own revenge on them for this betrayal - and no, none of my members would consider joining them. It would have to be the first case in history of the proverbial rats jumping onto a sinking ship."

Simon Holbrook insisted Labour was complaining "too much" and this was "a sign of weakness and insecurity".

He refuted the suggestion they had made their offer to Labour councillors at council tax payers' expense, explaining that they had put the letters in councillors' pegeonholes at the town hall, and anything left in those at the end of the week is bundled up and delivered to the councillors' homes.

Cllr Holbrook also said Ed Miliband was imposed on Labour by the unions and said: "They have a leader who in my opinion has no democratic legitimacy. It seems he is going back to a core vote strategy. It occurred to me that this is a recipe for Labour being quite some time in the political wilderness.

"I would have thought Labour councillors and members would be dismayed by that."

He listed the Lib Dem achievements while in office since May (see his letter to the councilors, below, for more on this) and said he felt it was legitimate to make this offer to Labour members.

Cllr Holbrook said there had beenh no reponse thus far but added: "I expect the swift rebuttal we had from the Labour leadership is an attempt to stifle any inquiries befre they arise. Making an issue out of this indicates they recognise the weakness."

The letter from Cllrs Holbook and Gardiner (Here it is as a jpeg, it should open in a new browser window when you click on it, or the text is below)
letter from SIMON HOLBROOK.html

Lib Dem letter
SH/101001 1 October 2010

_
Dear

The election of Ed Miliband as Labour leader is a watershed for the country and your party.

His denial of the disastrous economic record of the previous Labour government that now means every woman, man and child in the UK owes Â£22,400 and his leadership campaign of taking Labour further to the left will mean the party will become unelectable for years.

As I'm sure you know elections are fought and won on the mainstream progressive ground of British politics. Ground currently occupied by the Liberal Democrats.

It is the Liberal Democrats that are making sure that the tough, but necessary, decisions needed to balance the government's books will be done fairly.

In just four and half months a huge number of progressive policies have been enacted - thanks to the Liberal Democrats:

Ending imprisonment of children in immigration cases
Outlawing finger printing of children at school without parental permission
Restoring the pensions-earning link
Taking 900,000 low paid people out of income tax due to the raising of the threshold
Making top earners pay 10% more capital gains tax
Increasing tax credits for the poorest
Putting Â£2.5 billion into child tax credits so that children of all backgrounds get a good start in life
Introducing a banking levy and an independent commission to look at breaking up the fat cat mega banks
Scrapping ID cards
Introducing a Referendum Bill for the Alternative Vote - fulfilling a Labour manifesto commitment
Long awaited reform of the House of Lords.

It is clear with Labour sidelined to the wilderness for a generation, progressives of all parties and none will be looking for an effective home. That home is the Liberal Democrats.

If you want to discuss in confidence how you can help the Liberal Democrats transform Britain for good - please get in touch.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Simon Holbrook Councillor Gill Gardiner
Liberal Democrat Leader Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader

And here is Labour's response

2nd October 2010
Dear Simon & Gill,
We are writing in response to the letters you have sent to some of our members asking them to consider joining the Liberal Democrats. The members concerned are extremely angry with you and your Party about the contents of your letter and have asked us to send a collective response on behalf of the Labour Group.
Given the fact that the Liberal Democrats have effectively become the lackeys of the Tory Party, helping to deliver the agenda of the extreme right wing of the Conservatives, frankly we find your letter an insult to the intelligence of our members.
By getting into bed with the Tories both nationally and here in Wirral, the Liberal Democrats have shown that they are only interested in power. On Wirral this has been highlighted by the fact you actually jumped straight from a coalition with Labour to a coalition with the Tories, reversing your policies and beliefs even as you jumped.
By your actions in supporting the ideological agenda of the right wing of the Tory party, which is hell bent on reducing the size of the State whatever the cost to individuals, your party has well and truly forfeited any right to claim to be a progressive force in British politics. This is not progressive politics. This is regressive politics returning to the old Tories that we know only too well. .
We personally know of many voters who were told by Liberal Democrat candidates in the May elections that if they voted Liberal Democrat they would be able to keep the Tories out. No wonder that these people feel totally betrayed by the actions of your Party.
Since the general election in May, the Labour Party has attracted 35,000 new members. It is no surprise that a third of these are former Liberal Democrat members or supporters. Do you really expect Labour members on Wirral will reverse the tide by defecting to the Liberal Democrats??
Can we remind you of just a few of the reasons why thousands of people are turning their backs on you.
Increasing VAT to 20%. During the general election your Leader, Nick Clegg, described this as 'The Tory secret VAT bombshell.' But now the Lib Dems are the ones helping to light the fuse.
Axing more than 100 North West school projects. Liverpool Lib Dem leader Warren Bradley said cutting the Building Schools for the Future projects was 'unforgivable' and admitted it made him feel 'physically sick'.
Cuts in funding for the poor: Independent bodies such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies have said that the cuts made by the coalition government will have a disproportionate impact on the poorest in society. Examples include cutting the Child Trust Fund and taking away tax credits from families on less then Â£30,000. Here in Wirral, you have supported the Tories in cutting Â£4m from the current budget of the Council, including Â£1.6m from the budget used to create apprenticeships for people who are currently unemployed.
Cuts in the pipeline. We know that as part of the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review Tory Chancellor George Osborne has asked his Lib Dem colleagues to make sweeping cuts of 25% and more. At risk are Winter Fuel Payments and Child Benefit and vital services provided by local authorities.
Given the above, it is hardly surprising that Liberal Democrat Councillors are deserting your Party. This includes Liverpool City Cllr. Ian Jobling who joined Labour because he can no longer belong to a party of 'double standards and hypocrisy'; three Halton Lib Dem Cllrs quit saying they can no longer be 'nodding dogs' and in Manchester a Cllr jumped ship because he couldn't defend policies that 'harm the people' of his city.
We believe that the anger in the country at the Liberal Democrats means that you will continue to haemorrhage support and votes and we confidently expect to make significant gains in next year's local elections.
There is however one way in which you could avoid political and electoral extinction. That is to join the Labour Party which is reinvigorated under our new leader Ed Miliband. It is quite clear that only Labour will provide a progressive alternative to the right-wing policies which the coalition government is promoting. We would therefore invite you or any of your colleagues to get in touch to discuss working with the Labour Party to deliver our progressive vision.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely,

Councillor Steve Foulkes Councillor Phil Davies
Leader of the Labour Group Deputy Leader of the Labour Group

The Labour Notice of Motion

Notice of Motion for Council 18th October 2010
Use of Council Resources
Council is concerned that the Liberal Democrats have been reduced to using the Council's Friday mail run in a vain and hopeless attempt to persuade fellow councillors from the Labour Group to join them on death row, as they face total extinction in the May elections.
Council recognises the Liberal Democrat desperation as their party continues to haemorrhage members nationally, disillusioned by the growing number of broken promises the Coalition has forced upon them.
It also recognises their fear locally as the Conservatives shed crocodile tears while targeting Lib Dem seats in West Wirral in anticipation of Labour gains at Liberal Democrat expense elsewhere.
Council even recognises the uncertainty they must feel as the leader who promised them safety in a coalition with the Tories faces losing his seat himself.
However, despite all these pressures, Council would still appreciate the courtesy of a postage stamp on Political mail rather than having it delivered at the Council Tax payers' expense.

Wirral "at risk" from public sector job cuts

2010-10-05T10:49:40Z

WIRRAL has been named as one of three areas expected to be worst hit in the country by looming cuts in public sector jobs.

The borough is ranked third most likely to suffer based on analysis of the area's economy and the dependence on how many businesses are vulnerable, levels of insolvency, self-employment, and numbers of exporters.

In an article "Public sector axe falls heavily on the frail" the FT highlights what it sees as the borough's weaknesses in the face of the anticipated cuts in public spending.

Researchers for the Financial Times ranked areas in terms of "economic resilience" and then combined with information on how much each area depends on public sector jobs. Middlesborough was rated the weakest, followed by Plymouth then Wirral.

But Wirral Council's interim director of corporate services, Kevin Adderley, said he questioned the assumptions based on the data from business information company Experian.

He said although Wirral has the lowest Gross Value Added (a statistical measure of the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector) the council is working hard to help Wirral businesses and attract new investment.

Mr Adderley said Wirral has helped create or sustain 1,500 jobs since the recession, not including the 244 just announced by The Contact Company, along with more than helping create 200 apprenticeships.

The borough also has higher than average vocational and educational attainment - more people with degrees than the North West and England average, and unemployment in Wirral has come down faster in last 12 months that rest of North West.

He also pointed to the success of Wirral-based companies such as Unilever and Bristol-Myers Squibb and said: "We have organisations which are at the forefront of cutting edge research. We have businesses in Wirral that are world leaders, not just in the local economy."

In a determined defence of the borough, Mr Adderley said Cammell Laird is currently well-placed to bid for work on the planned off-shore windfarm in the Irish Sea which could create thousands of jobs.

He said: "Cammell Laird is not just a ship-builder and repairer, it's a world famous company with a highly skilled workforce."

However Mr Adderley added: "It is a bit of a concern that someone reading this in London or somewhere might think they don't like the sound of it. But when people find out about Wirral, and even better come and see it, they realise it's an area that although it faces some challenges also has huge potential."

Council leader Jeff Green pointed to the work at New Brighton and signs of investor confidence in Wirral Waters, and said: "After 13 years of a Labour government the area still faces major challenges, but we're going to work with our colleagues in the public and private sectors to meet those challenges."

Cllr Green said: "We will be looking to see where we can improve and working to ensure we become one of the best areas for the private sector to come and invest."

Wirral Tories governing "by press release"

2010-10-04T09:47:58Z

LABOUR has accused the ruling Tory group in Wirral of governing "by press release" and failing to include councillors in decision-making.

The argument has centred on the massive six week consultation to gauge the public's priorities for council services as the authority wrestles with a gaping budget deficit of more than Â£100 million.

The council appointed four task forces to examine separate areas of the authority's work and develop ideas and questions which would then be put to the public in the "Wirral's Future - Be a part of it" consultation.

But Labour are angry that the creation of the task forces and questionnaire have been developed outside of "normal council processes" and say this has prevented any proper scrutiny.

Deputy leader of the Labour group, Cllr Phil Davies, said: "Our big complaint is not that they're doing consultation, which is good, but all the arrangements have been announced by press release and on the internet.

"I've been a councillor for 19 years and it's the first time I've ever seen anything like this.
"As representatives of residents it's important that we have an opportunity to influence issues such as who is on the task forces and what is in those questionnaires.

"For example, we're worried that the people on the task forces could end up bidding for council services that they have recommended be outsourced. There is a danger people could compromise their position."

He said the council's democratic structures "are actually being bypassed through the use of Independent Task Forces, apparently carrying out many of the duties that the scrutiny committees are charged with under the council's constitution, but without any of the protections".

But Conservative leader Jeff Green was scathing in his response and said: "The days of Labour sitting in their bunker predetermining what they want and using the fig leaf of consultation are long gone.

"This council is committed to openness and transparency. We made it clear we want to be more open and involving residents and communities - and I believe they want to be involved."

He added: "The Independent Task Forces are only giving advice - decisions will be made by the council."

Labour have called special meetings of two scrutiny committees, with the first to be held tonight [MONDAY OCTOBER 4] at Wallasey Town Hall.

Wirral's Future

2010-09-13T13:19:22Z

Wirral Council's biggest ever consultation got underway yesterday. Not exactly the weather you would want for stopping people and asking them to complete a questionnaire, but the press office insisted they had received a good response to both the website questionnaire and from people out and about...

However, if this ambitious consultation is successful - and it is quite a big "if" - it will be a serious step forward for local government in Wirral. It is a major programme with very tight timescales for budget setting. But it is also a significant step in discovering what people want, without the compromises they would make at the ballot box.

The key question, it seems is whether people will accept the "hard" choices such as increased prices for services, even losing some services.

You can find out more from the council webpage www.wirral.gov.uk, but worth paying particular attention to are the recommendations of the task groups. They are Adult Social Services, Children and Young People, Economy and Regeneration and Living in Wirral.

The questionnaire (which provides a sort of headlines summary of the task group suggestions) is here, and if you want to see the roadshow the dates are all here.

the unedited version of the Daily Post story, with a summary of some of the task force recommendations, is below:

PEOPLE in Wirral are to be asked about proposals ranging from increasing charges for some council services to where to make cuts in a bid to tackle the authority's looming budget gap.
On current figures Wirral Council will have a difference of around Â£108 million between its income and expenditure over the next four years.
Now the council's biggest ever consultation - due to last six weeks - is intended to form the basis of decision-making by the Conservative Lib-Dem coalition cabinet, which controls Wirral Council, in a bid to tackle that budget gap.
Known as "Wirral's Future. Be a part of it", it will visit supermarkets, schools, shopping centres, youth centres and even people's doorsteps to try to find out what people want the authority to concentrate on.
Leader of Wirral Council, Jeff Green, said: "We want to make sure that more people know about the decisions the council takes and that people who want to get involved in the decisions can do so in a way that suits their lifestyle - in a meeting, on line, face to face on the doorstep or by post.
"For far too long, Government, especially local government, has been too far removed from people. Our consultation calls it a day on the 'we know best' attitude and gives everyone in Wirral the opportunity to get involved."
Participants can also complete a questionnaire, available online as well as at one stop shops, council offices and libraries.
The first part asks about views of council services, with later sections asking more specific questions about how people feel about particular recommendations arrived at by the task groups set up by the authority.
The council has set up four groups looking at the economy, chuldren's services, adult social services and the wide-ranging "Living in Wirral", with members drawn from the private, public, voluntary and community sectors to develop ideas for the council's priorities, which form the basis of the consultation.
The Living in Wirral Task Force looked at issues such as the environment, culture and leisure, housing and council regulation, making suggestions such as the council should consider charging for services such as giving planning advice to developers, removal of graffiti and waste from private land.
The same task force has suggested that charges should be the same across Wirral, and putting libraries, One Stop Shops, community and children's centres into the same buildings to reduce the amount spent on council buildings.
The Children and Young People's task force suggested changes such as reviewing the services to schools - such as Human Resources - to make sure that what the council charges is the same as what the service costs to provide, as well as reviewing areas which are "surplus to the school curriculum" such as outdoor activities and music.
It also proposed the council targets help to vulnerable young people, seek more foster carers and look to voluntary sector organisations, such as Barnado's to provide more services.
The questionnaire also asks what people think of the Adult Services task group proposal that the authority should stop directly providing services such as supporting people in their own home, and residential and respite care, and instead "buy them in at the same quality but a lower cost from the private and voluntary sector and others".
According to the council it currently pays around Â£4 million more in fees than other neighbouring areas to businesses which provide private care home services, and the Task Force suggests that the council could reduce the amount paid to reduce this difference.
The economy task force suggests that the council should only fund training projects designed to lead to a job or self-employment, and said Wirral needs more and better locations for businesses to locate in and grow.

Wirral Waters

2010-08-04T15:32:10Z

Peel have issued their press release following the decision last night of Wirral Council's planning committee to approve the Â£4.5 billion 30 year Wirral Waters scheme.

If you haven't seen it, the story was in the Daily Post today.

Peel's release:

4th August 2010
Wirral Waters is Granted Planning Permission!
Summary
Last night an historical decision was reached by Wirral Council Planning
Committee who granted planning permission for Wirral Waters.
Article
Wirral Council Planning Committee has reached a positive decision to grant Planning
Permission for Wirral Waters, the largest urban regeneration project in the UK. This
will represent an investment in Wirral of over Â£4.5 Billion and the promise of over
20,000 new jobs over 30 years.
Members of the Peel design team were in the audience of the public meeting which
started at 6pm in the Committee Room at Wallasey Town Hall. All Planning
Committee Councillors were present, along with Wirral Council Planning and
Development Control Team, and the room rapidly filled up with members of the
public and media representatives.
Joanne Storey - the case officer - and colleagues gave a thorough presentation of
the scheme, showing how it has evolved over the past 4 years and been shaped
through true 'partnership working'. She explained the mixed use nature of the
project, its regenerative benefits, Peel's approach to sustainability plus how the
different 'quarter' areas - education, culture, residential etc - function and work as a
composite whole.
The Committee were also specifically briefed on some of the most important issues
connected with the scheme, namely affordable housing, planning mechanisms, S106
agreements, traffic and transport, land uses and jobs, by Richard Lewis, John
Entwistle and Keith Rogers.
Three stunning new images of the Wirral Waters scheme created by Rust Design
were displayed during the Committee. These beautiful artists' impressions serve to
give an idea of how the scheme may take shape and how it is to be centred around
water creating a unique place and lifestyle.
Peel Land & Property comprises a UK property investment and land portfolio of 836,000 sq m (9 million sq.ft) of
investment property and over 11,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of land as well as overseas investments in Bermuda,
the Bahamas and Spain. With a track record for quality and regeneration, high profile developments encompass The
Trafford Centre, MediaCityUK, Gloucester Quays and the visionary Liverpool and Wirral Waters Â£10 billion
regeneration schemes.
Councillors raised lots of questions following publication of the 250 page Committee
Report. These included Cllr Denise Realey's queries on how the scheme would
guarantee jobs for local people, whilst other members of the Committee including
Councillor George Davies - who drew parallels with Peel's 'transformational' Salford
Quays project, Cllr Gilchrist and Cllr Hodgson, raised wide ranging issues included
'referral', housing delivery, CABE, water-supply and building heights. Cllr Roberts
spoke wholeheartedly on the positives this scheme will bring to the local community.
Phrases including "we cannot live in the past", and "we have one chance, and should
grasp it with both hands" were expressly voiced. Referring to Sir Kenneth Clark's
'Civilisation' series, the scheme and approach positively resonated with one Cllr for
its 'heroic materialism'.
All four local MPs - Frank Field, Esther McVey, Angela Eagle and Alison McGovern -
wrote letters of support for Wirral Waters, which were read out during the Committee
Meeting.
The Committee meeting lasted around two hours, and culminated in a unanimous
showing of hands giving Wirral Waters the green light. The whole room erupted into a
spontaneous round of applause and there was a general feeling of relief mixed with
joy and hope.
Lindsey Ashworth, Peel Development Director, commented after the vote: "I am so
happy I could cry with joy! We are absolutely delighted that Wirral Planning
Committee has reached this positive decision, it is what the public wanted and what
the area is crying out for. This is an historic day for the future of Wirral and the entire
City Region".
Richard Mawdsley, Development Manager at Peel said "Tonight's endorsement by
Wirral Council is a huge milestone for Wirral Waters. We are delighted with the
result. The positive and unanimous outcome is a testament to true collaboration. A
lot of hard work has taken place by a very large number of groups, organisations and
individuals. The Committee's decision is a massive step-forward towards the delivery
of what is a truly shared Vision - and one that can only improve the economic
prospects of future generations. With this result we can be hopeful that WW's won't
be called in however we can never be sure".
Peel Land & Property comprises a UK property investment and land portfolio of 836,000 sq m (9 million sq.ft) of
investment property and over 11,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of land as well as overseas investments in Bermuda,
the Bahamas and Spain. With a track record for quality and regeneration, high profile developments encompass The
Trafford Centre, MediaCityUK, Gloucester Quays and the visionary Liverpool and Wirral Waters Â£10 billion
regeneration schemes.
The next step in the planning process will be for Wirral Council to refer the project to
Government Office Northwest. This is a legal requirement and will serve to see
whether the project goes to a Public Inquiry. It is hoped by Peel that this will be
unnecessary given the massive amount of support and goodwill the project has
engendered, but also because of the new government "localism" agenda where it
wants decisions that will affect local communities to be made by the local
communities.
Once Government Office Northwest give their seal of approval, the Peel Group will
be able to forge ahead and embark on the marketing phase of the project. This will
involve branding and place-making and will involve a marketing team plus inward
investment agencies including Wirral Council, the NWDA and The Mersey
Partnership. Peel will be promoting the project on the international stage including
the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Richard Mawdsley said: "After 3 years of 'planning
process' and assuming no call-in, we can move into the 'marketing phase' of the
project. Big, catalytic occupiers - whether cultural, educational or commercial - are
only interested with a consent in place".
Peel hope to start on site as soon as the recession allows. Lindsey Ashworth
considers as a 'best guess' that this will be during 2012.
End.
Editors notes:
Wirral Waters is one half of Peel Waters; two complimentary and balanced waterside projects
on either side of the River Mersey. It is THE largest and most visionary regeneration project in
the UK. And most importantly, it is an opportunity for Wirral to enter a new stage in its
evolution.
The scheme is 'jobs' driven. Wirral Waters seeks to create well over 20,000 permanent new
jobs in Wirral, for Wirral and we need your help to make this possible. The scheme will also
help create skills and apprenticeships for young people, giving them a future on their
doorstep.
Wirral Waters will transform the derelict docks in Birkenhead into a world class waterfront that
is alive with activity, animating the water with both leisure and industrial craft.
Peel Land & Property comprises a UK property investment and land portfolio of 836,000 sq m (9 million sq.ft) of
investment property and over 11,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of land as well as overseas investments in Bermuda,
the Bahamas and Spain. With a track record for quality and regeneration, high profile developments encompass The
Trafford Centre, MediaCityUK, Gloucester Quays and the visionary Liverpool and Wirral Waters Â£10 billion
regeneration schemes.
The project is privately funded and led by a developer with a proven track record of delivery.
Peel are seeking to bring investment to the heart of the City Region over the next 3 decades -
with public and private sector working together we will beat the recession.
www.wirralwaters.co.uk