Happy 150th

Yesterday, along with my colleague Cllr Steve Williams I attended Christchurch School 150th anniversary celebrations.   Sadly I could not attend the church service at 2pm because believe it or not with all the children teachers and governors there was no room left.

However I went to the school later in the afternoon and was shown around by children who are on the school council the ‘Timeline’ that the children had produced covering the last 150 years, it really was great and like me, I am sure the children learned loads putting this together. 

We then had a few speeches, and a small buffet, as well as a chance to chat to the children, teachers (past and present) and the governors.  Thanks to everyone who put on this event and made this day very special.    Heres to the next 150 years!

Another Day, Another Christmas Event!

Me, Leah and Steve

This morning, along with Leah Fraser, and the newly elected Councillor for Moreton West and Saughall Massie, Steve Williams we attended the Moreton Adult Learning Centre’s Christmas Bazaar.    Like yesterdays event at Foxfield School it was extremely busy.    There were lots of different stalls, homemade cakes, books, bric-a brac, homegrown vegetables, grown on site in the garden, chutneys, raffle etc etc.      I bought a few bits and pieces as well as raffle tickets, who knows this time?   

We chatted to lots of the parents, grandparents and students and they were all tremendously enthusiastic about the day and the future.  This centre is simply one of the most popular, well used facilities for adults with learning difficulties in the Borough, that is testament to the hard work that everyone who is involved with it puts in.     Good luck all, hope you raise lots of funds today.

Education, Education, Education

Looks like Seacombe Labour need to go back to school!    On their site is a You Tube Video with Ed Balls attacking the Tories on Education.   I have added an arrow which shows the AWEFUL spelling mistake on the graphic to the right of the Video.   The same mistake is on the Upton and Bidston Labour websites.      Who is running whose sites?   Perhaps they meant to say Wirral Tories are AWESOME?   or that they are simply in AWE of us?

What Price Our Childrens Education?

It seems that the controversial academies programme has now come to Wirral.     The Government won’t, or can’t fund the new academies, so it seems that we have to rely on ‘sponsors’, in other words private individuals/companies who do have the cash!     But surely, as part of that, the Labour Lib Dem administration that controls Wirral must be careful who they deal with, must carry out checks before any agreements are reached?  After all this is our childrens futures.     So it was with some shock that I read this exchange yesterday.        Questions to be asked, and answers to be given – I think Wirral’s press office will be put to the test.

Christchurch School Summer Fair!

After an exhausting four hours delivering surveys in Seacombe this morning, along with my colleagues, Cllr Ian Lewis and Cllr Leah Fraser I attended Christchurch Primary School Summer Fair.  (Leah and me pictured above listening to Insanity Beach)  This is the last of the summer fairs being held in the ward, and having attended Foxfield School, and Lingham School, this one was equally as good.   

I was looking after it for Leah, honest!

Apart from all the usual stalls, Coconut shy, Bouncey Castle, Raffles, Cakes, Hot Dogs, Burgers and Ice cream, Christchurch is also blessed with having live music from that well known local band, ‘Insanity Beach’.  The music brings a different dimension to the Summer Fair experience.

Wot NO Coconut!

Sadly this year, and the first time for a number of years I failed to knock a cocunut off its post, not sure if they had nailed em on this year!  They even gave me a free shot, but sadly my aim was way off target.   Never mind!  

Anyway, Leah, Ian and I has a great time, met loads of people and even had time for a Hot Dog and a 99 Ice Cream.  Thanks must go to the PTA who organise the fair, this is their biggest single fund raising event of the year, and I was delighted that the weather, although cloudy, stayed dry and that hundreds of people attended.  A great day.

Summer Fair Season

Yep it is here again.   Last Saturday, along with Leah Fraser I attended Foxfield School Summer Fair.   This afternoon, along with Leah and with Cllr Simon Mountney I attended Lingham Primary School Summer Fair.   The weather started out really good and the queue to get in was enormous, as can be seen by the pic of Leah in the queue.   

The fair had all the usual stalls, cakes, face painting, balloons, beat the goalie, a chocolate fountain were we could buy chocolate covered strawberry kebabs, bouncey castle, raffles and much more.   Sadly Leah could not stay too long, I don’t know you ladies and hair appointments, however Simon and I had a good look at everything, and chatted to parents and kids.   Sadly the weather closed in and the threatened rain hit at about 5pm, and everyone ran for cover.   Despite the weather I hope the school made lots of funds to support many of their activities.   Tomorrow its onto Christchurch Primary School on Upton Road, 1:30 to 4pm.

Library Inquiry – QC Costs shocker!

There have been many rumours circulating about how much the Council is paying to be represented by a QC at the recent Library Inquiry at the Floral Pavillion.

I thought no point in messing about so I asked the Chief Exec.   He instructed the Head of Law to respond to me and the cost he is telling me is between £15 and £20k.   His response to me is below:

Chris

I have been asked by Steve Maddox to respond to this query.

The cost will probably be in the £15-20K range depending on the final time taken on the matter.  In the first instance I expect I will pay this from the Legal Fees budget.

Regards

Bill

Bill Norman

Director of Law, HR and Asset Management

Wirral Council

Library Inquiry Closes

Sadly I could not attend the Inquiry this morning at the Floral Pavilion, because I was Chairing a Wirral MAP meeting at the Lauries Centre in Birkenhead.    As soon as that finished I hotfooted it across to the Floral to meet with my colleagues and in time to catch Alan Stennard being grilled by Sue Charteris and Annabel from the DCMS.   From all accounts, and from the part I witnessed, Alan Stennard was not given an easy ride!    It’s clear from proceedings yesterday and this morning that the Council’s case for Library closures has totally collapsed.

After lunch the QC representing the Council (rumoured to be on £15,000) summed up for the Council.  When he finished he was asked by Sue Charteris to elaborate on an early point he made in his submission, he could not remember what it was he said and Annabel from the DCMS had to prompt him, I ask you?    That in itself is bad enough but the QC then goes on to say thank you, that is an important point I was making!    So important he could not remember it until prompted?   He is clearly real value for money!   

Anyway we await the draft report and recommendations from Sue Charteris,and we are told we can expect a decision by the end of July.      If justice is to be done, the Library’s earmarked for closure will be spared, and this Labour Lib Dem Cabinet disgraced by its actions.      Read a resume of this mornings proceedings by clicking here 

It really is time for change at Wirral Council!

Wirral’s Library Inquiry – Day 2

This morning sees the second day of the public Inquiry ordered by Andy Burnham MP, former Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) into the proposed closure of 11 of Wirral’s much needed and much loved Library’s, ordered by the joint Labour and Liberal Democrat Cabinet that rules in Wirral.

I attended the morning session yesterday and you can read about that by clicking here.  Sadly I will not be able to attend today’s session as I am Chairing a Merseytravel Access Panel (Wirral MAP) at the Lauries Centre, however I will try and follow of much of it as I can by logging onto the live blog being operated by the Wirral News.  To access that blog click here.

Let’s not forget that whilst Council Officers brought the Strategic Assett Review (SAR) forward and are defending the Labour and Lib Dem Cabinet’s position at the Public Inquiry on the Libary closures, it was THE LABOUR AND LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE ELECTED CABINET MEMBERS who ORDERED the closures to go ahead, and it is they who can stop the closures by reversing that decision.  Yes it really is that simple!

Wirral Library Inquiry!

I have spent the morning at the Floral Pavillion in New Brighton at the Inquiry that is looking into the closure programme of 11 Library’s proposed by the Labour and Lib Dem alliance.      

Although the Cabinet made the decision to close the Library’s sadly they are not present at the Inquiry to defend that decision, instead they have hidden behind tasked Council Officers, and I am told a very expensive QC,  (It is rumoured that his charge is £15,000, but that has not been confirmed).  One thing for certain is that QC’s do not come cheap!   Anyway in my opinion I am delighted to say that this morning he has been pretty good value for money…………….   for the protestors that is.  

Sue Charteris,  Chairman of the Inquiry set the scene and the procedure to be followed, and made it clear what would, and what would not be acceptable.      She then invited Alan Stennard, the Councils Director of Regeneration to put the Council’s case, he was then followed by a series of speakers, all opposed to the closure of Wirral’s Library’s

The first speaker was the Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Jeff Green, then Dr Keith Bartlett for the MLA, Bob McKee for CILIP,  Diane Kelly and Jane Edwards for Unison, Hoylake Councillor, John Hale, then Stephen Hesford MP, Alec McFadden, Dr Jane Davis from the Reader Organisation, Professor Robert Lee, an oral statement from Tim Coates, Cllr Phil Gilchrist and Lewis McDonald.    

It’s fair to say ALL the speakers knocked huge holes in the Councils proposals and Sue Charteris must have been really impressed, I certainly was, with the research, preparation and delivery of the vast majority of speakers, all of whom received very warm rounds of applause from the gathered crowd.

Sadly I could not stay for for the afternoon session, however I am sure the evidence, and reasons not to close the Library’s will continue to be overwhelming and I am confident that Sue Charteris will take all of that into account when she is preparing her report.  The Inquiry is due to conclude tomorrow lunchtime.     You can follow a live blog of events being operated by the Wirral News by clicking here