A Great Night for Wirral

Last night, in my capacity as Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety I attended Wirral Cabinets Budget Meeting.    As well as saving over £50 million since taking over the administration in conjunction with the Liberal Democrats in May 2010, last night the Cabinet announced that there would be no increase in Council Tax as well as making huge investments in services, to all areas of the Council.

Clearly I was delighted that £290,000 has been put into the budget to protect Wirral’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, a team that delivers tremendous services and is proactive in dealing with the miscreants who unchecked can make life hell for residents of Wirral, I was also pleased that monitoring of day time CCTV is to be reintroduced at a cost of £50,000.  When the previous Labour-Led administration scrapped this it was me who led the opposition, its been three or four years but its back.   £500,000 has been put into dealing with domestic violence, as well as money for Trading Standards to continue its work in dealing with under age sales of alcohol, as well as further investment in the dog fouling team.

Money has also been invested in Childrens Services, Adult Social Services, Sure Start, provision of free parking, play area cleanups, local businesses, jobs and apprenticeships etc.     Well done to everyone who played their part in putting this together, it truly was a budget that the residents told us they wanted in their response to the massive ‘Your Wirral’ consultation.     Wirral is leading the way!

Labour candidate joins the Conservatives

A senior Wirral Labour Candidate has joined the Conservatives.  Geoff Dormand achieved the highest-ever Labour vote in Greasby, Frankby and Irby Ward in the local elections in May 2010.     The drive by the Conservatives to open up the Council and to consult residents on services was cited by Geoff as one of the reasons why he decided to make the switch.      

Geoff lives in Seacombe and is joint Chairman of the Seacombe Community Partnership and also a member of the Wirral Older People’s Parliament.     Geoff said: “I am passionate about giving more power to local communities such as Seacombe and what the new Council is doing should have all-Party support.  Locally, I have often been helped by Denis Knowles who, I believe, is a good councillor.” 

Cllr. Jeff Green, Leader of the Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome someone who wants to put the needs of his community first. Geoff did really well for Labour in Greasby and his loss will be a bitter blow to them.    “Geoff is clearly committed to his local community and wants to make sure that people in Seacombe are fully consulted and involved.  That is only going to happen with the new Administration in the Town Hall.”

Welcome to the Leader of Wirral Council

Yesterday Councillor Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral Borough Council became the latest Wirral Councillor to join the world of blogging.    Welcome Jeff and I look forward to following your informative words of wisdom over the coming months and years.    You can link to the Leaders blog by clicking HERE.   I have also put a permanent link under people on the right hand column of my blog.

The Morning After The Night Before

Last night, along with 19 other  Wirral Conservative Councillors I was at Sorellas in Upton Road (Leasowe and Moreton East Ward) for our annual Christmas meal.   The food was great and we had a good time, thanks to Jeff for the wine, and a special thanks to all the staff who made our night a great one.  (So there can be no mistake this was paid for by us as indviduals).

Anyway this morning bright and early I was out pounding the streets of Seacombe delivering our Change Leaflet, the walk certainly cleared the head as well as working off the excesses of last night!