Apprentices Part Two

Yesterday I blogged about Wirral West MP, Esther McVey employing an apprentice in her constituency office.     Then last night I attended the Cabinet meeting at the Town Hall to agree with the rest of the Cabinet to increase the number of ‘Wirral Apprentices’.    This fantastic programme works with employers to provide training and skills to young people and the Conservative Lib Dem Cabinet decisioion will see the number of apprentices increased to more than 200 across the Borough.

The Leader of the Council, Jeff Green, has recently started blogging and he reports back on some of the highlights of last nights Cabinet meeting here.

New Years Resolutions!

It’s that time of the year when people make all sorts of weird and wonderful resolutions, only to find that within a day or two they have vanished into insignificance.   That’s why I simply don’t bother anymore!

Although not a New Years resolution, I do resolve to continue to hold Steve Foulkes, Simon Holbrook and the unholy Lab / Lib Dem ruling junta at Wirral to account for their actions, as well as some Council Officers,who appear to believe they can run roughshod over the wishers of the people of Wirral as well!   Come May this year, there will be change, hopefully locally, as well as nationally, I and the Wirral Conservatives are ready for that change.

Pleased?

The Audit Commission has today published its its Organisational Assessment for the Council, and the Area Assessment for Councils across the Country.    Wirral is performing ‘adequately’ with 2 stars out of 4.   Read more by clicking HERE.      Wirral has not been awarded any Green Flags, however it has been awarded a Red Flag for its safeguarding arrangements of vulnerable adults!      Whilst most, but not all of the other Councils in the area have been awarded 3 stars out of 4, I think it is very disappointing that Wirral is only ‘Adequate’.     I am even more disappointed that according to the Daily Post, the New Labour Council Leader is pleased with the performance!      Is he really pleased that the Council is only performing ‘Adequately’ , pleased that we have no Green Flags, and pleased that we have been awarded a Red Flag?

L – Day!

I understand that at around lunchtime today the DCMS will be releasing its report into Wirral’s Library fiasco.     It is just a couple of days over 12 months ago when Wirral’s ruling Labour/LibDem coalition agreed to consult on the Stategic Asset Review (SAR) which included the closure of many of our Library’s, Leisure Centres and Swimming Pools.     Only one day before the first of Wirral’s Library’s was to close, Andy Burnham, the then Minister for the DCMS halted the closures and ordered a public Inquiry into the Library closures.    That Inquiry was chaired by Sue Charteris and was held over two days at the Floral Pavillion.

Readers will recall that having had sight of the contents of the draft report from Sue Charteris, the ruling Cabinet, in a clandestine midnight meeting with Council Officers carried out the biggest humiliating U Turn Wirral has ever seen and scrapped the closure programme.    Today we will all get to see the contents of the DCMS and Sue Charteris reports.   Should make for interesting reading!

Seems it’s Catching

Over the last few days Wallasey New Labour have presented mistake upon mistake   Now the Wallasey Lib Dems have decided to join in.  (well a vote for either party gets you the same in Wirral).   The Lib Dem candidate for the by-election has posted an article on his blog that refers to the ‘Kingfisher Lane’ area!   Clearly he does not know the ward, if he did he would of course realise that it is Kingfisher Way.    A true Lab/Lib Dem coalition in every way!

The Plot Thickens!

It seems that the Labour Lib Dem ruling Junta did its U turn on Library’s only hours before the Sue Charteris Public Inquiry report was to be published.    Read the Wirral Globe exclusive HERE.

Two Weeks in Shanghai

That will be £28,000 please.     Thats what senior officers of the Council are asking the Cabinet to approve!   You can read the cabinet report by clicking HERE.      Seems the ruling Labour / Lib Dem administration are happy to slash our school crossing patrols, transfer our community centres, threaten to close our libraries, leisure centres and swimming pools, but then find £28,000 to send, as yet an unknown amount of Council officers to the World Expo in Shanghai next year.      Whats the betting that the Cabinet approves it?   TIME FOR CHANGE!

Who Saw What, and When?

That was one of the questions asked last night by my colleague, Cllr Ian Lewis  of the Council’s Monitoring Officer.  The Monitoring officers response, I will reflect on the question before giving my answer!   Read what the Daily Post says by clicking here.      The question was asked at a special Council meeting called by Wirral’s Conservatives to try to get to the bottom of just what is going on in this Council following the Council leaders humiliating ‘U Turn’ on the Library issue.    

I have now sent an email to the Councils Monitoring Officer seeking answers to who saw what? when? And who decided who could and could not see the contents.   Seems to me to be unfair?   Read what the Wirral Globe says by clicking here

I also pointed out the absolute hypocrisy of some members of the Labour group who were now claiming they spoke out vociferously against the closure of the local library in their ward!     If they did speak out vociferously I never heard them, and if that is the case then perhaps they will explain why they supported their leadership, and voted for the closure of libraries?  Hypocrisy at a new level!   

Sadly, despite making this borough a laughing stock, losing all credibility and trust with the people of wirral, this useless, inept and out of touch Labour/Lib Dem administration steadfastly refuses to resign.     The choice is simple go now, or be humiliated in May 2010.

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.

Have YOUR Say

If you’re free for two hours tomorrow (Thursday evening) and can get to the Floral Pavilion, come down to the ‘public meeting’ over the cuts to libraries, leisure centres, community centres and theatres/museums.    The meeting starts at 7pm and is due to end at 9pm.    This is your opportunity to tell the Labour Leader and his Lib Dem cronies what he can do with his ‘CUTS’

You can also:

1. Join the protest march at Seacombe Ferry (to the Town Hall) on January 15 at 4.30pm
2. Email office@wallaseyconservatives.com with your support
3. Attend the Cabinet meeting at 6pm at Wallasey Town Hall on January 15
4. Join the Facebook Group ‘Save our Services’