Cllr Wendy Clements

Last Thursday Councillor Tony Cox was re-elected to serve the people of Greasby, Frankby and Irby. Greasby, Frankby and Irby had the highest turnout on Wirral, 42.6% and Tony’s majority was 543. You can read details here.

On Friday I was at Brookdale Primary School to help celebrate the school’s 50th birthday.  Many parents, pupils, staff and governors (both past and present) came to mark the day, look round the school and share a cake. We were also able to admire the new mural within the school and you can see a video about it here

Sunday was also  the celebration day for the 150th Anniversary of St John the Divine, Frankby. (6th May 1862 to 6th May 2012). Congratulations to you.

Just catching up on posts after a rather busy period of time. Don’t believe absolutely everything you read in the papers.

Media release – Wirral Conservative Group   Monday 30th April 2012

More that 12,000 of Wirral’s poorest pensioners WILL receive a credit on their Council Tax accounts this year. These people have worked most of their lives, have paid into the system and now, for whatever reason, do not have enough income to pay full Council Tax bills so they receive Council Tax Benefit for part or, in some cases, all of their bills.

Councillor Jeff Green said: “Last month’s Council Budget returned around £4 million into the local economy and everyone, including these 12,000 pensioners, will receive their share of that. And in households where everyone is over 70, they can register for a discount worth another 8% off their bill. As of today 4,800 people have done so.

“At the same time, I also want to do more to help people off welfare and into work and so, people who come off benefit and start work this year and who become liable for Council Tax, will also see their bills reduced.”

Councillor Green added: “At a time when so many people are struggling to make ends meet, I am proud that it’s a Conservative-led Council in Wirral that it making sure everyone is being helped in some way.

“What baffles me is why Labour, who constantly talk about helping the least well off, opposes this.”

Ends

Wirral Council has today announced details of the helpline that has been set up for residents to raise concerns about delays in providing community care packages between October 2008 and August 2010.

 The helpline, which was ordered by Council Leader, Jeff Green, will be staffed between 9am and 5pm by a qualified social worker who will collect information and formulate a plan of action with callers. The helpline will be available from Monday 19 March to Friday 13 April 2012. All complaints will be investigated by a specialist team of officers independent of Wirral Council. The Helpline will deal with complaints relating to the 4 week delay in providing community care packages between October 2008 and August 2010.  Any other complaints relating to DASS services should be addressed through the normal Complaints Procedure.

 Council Leader and portfolio-holder for Social Care and Inclusion, Jeff Green, has demanded regular updates on how cases are progressing. He explained: “I will be taking an active role in making sure that everyone who believes that they have been let down by the Council will have their cases properly considered and dealt with. This helpline will help us to hold people to account, and finally get to the bottom of what was a disgraceful period in adult social services.

 “I will be working closely with the new Director of Adult Social Services to deliver on the promises we have made and can assure everyone of my personal commitment on this matter.”

 The Helpline number is 0151 606 2641. Complaints can also be registered by emailing leader@wirral.gov.uk or in writing to the Customer Resolution and Information Team,HamiltonBuilding,Conway Street,Birkenhead,CH41 4FD.

Having cut the cost of Council Tax, the other side of the equation is cutting costs for the Council.

Wirral Council is set to realise savings of £67,500 on its stock of mobile phones, cutting its ‘phone bill’ by a quarter. Wirral Council currently pays £218,500 per year for 2,100 ‘active connections’, which includes a mix of mobile telephones with or without e-mail, mobile broadband devices and data only connections. The successful renegotiation of its contract with supplier Vodafone will reduce this outlay to £151,000. Councillor Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral Council said: “As well as reducing the amount residents pay in their Council Tax bills, we must also make sure we get better value for money in the money we spend. This reduction in mobile phone costs is a big saving which will be used to support front line services instead. “At a time when many people are seeing their household budgets squeezed, it’s only right that the Council also lives within its means.” Mobile technology supports flexible working, reducing the outlay on Council buildings and ensuring services can reach residents on their doorstep. In addition, work continues to make efficiency savings in back office systems, including by switching to electronic invoice processing. The Council’s contract with Vodafone is provided through the Government Procurement Service, which aims to increase local authorities’ purchasing-power by grouping authorities together. Under EU law strict competition rules are laid down to govern how local government procures services.

Great news!

Today we have heard that Greasby Community Association has been awarded Front Runner status for its Neighbourhood Planning proposals for Greasby village.

This is the beginning of a process which will lead to drawing up a Neighbourhood Plan which must then be subject to consultation with the local community.  You will hear more about this as the process runs on.

Communities Minister, Bob Neill said of Neighbourhood Planning,  “For the first time communities will be in the driving seat and allowed to shape the way they want their area to develop instead of having a vision imposed upon them from above.”

Greasby joins Devonshire Park, Hoylake Village Life and Central Liscard Area Residents Association as Wirral front runners in the neighbourhood planning initiative, and will doubtless benefit from their experience as they are further along the process.

Further details of the DCLG announcement available here.

Last night the Council approved the Conservative budget brought forward by Cllr Jeff Green, the  Conservative Leader of the Council.  The budget will retain more in balances at the end of the year, but also gives back  £4 million to the local people of Wirral. This money is better in the local economy than being held by the council.

One new initiative is to allow people to pay over 12 months instead of 10. (you have to pay be direct debit and opt in). This reduces the monthly payments even more. If all the household is over 70 at 1st April 2012, then you can apply for the discount which previously only applied to over 75s.

Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Jeff Green said: “We are determined to do what we can to help people out through these tough economic times. By reducing the amount you pay overall and making things easier, by paying less every month, we hope to ease the financial pressures that so many families are currently going through.

In the past 10 days, Wirral Council has undergone tremendous change. Following a no-confidence motion on 13th February, the Labour Leader was removed as Leader of the Council.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors then voted to have Councillor Jeff Green as Leader of the Council. The new Leader has tonight held his first cabinet of the new administration, and brought forward a budget. This budget will see a 3% reduction in Council Tax.

Councillor Green has said that he will put more information on his blog  over the next few days, and on 1st March the Full Council will meet to consider the budget and debate it.

If you are considering holding a celebration for the Diamond Jubilee in June, the 4th annual Big Lunch is coming means you may be able to get a helping hand.

Taking place over the weekend of the Diamond Jubilee holiday (2nd-5th June 2012), the event is designed to bring communities together in celebrating 60 years of the Queen’s reign. The Big Lunch is run by the Eden Project. They describe it as ‘a simple idea… to get as many people across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun’. Last year, around 2 million people took part in a Big Lunch, with 19 local community groups receiving funding towards their own event from Wirral’s Area Forums.

This year, Wirral’s Area Forums are inviting residents and local groups to apply for funding of up to £200 towards the expense of running their very own Big Lunch event. The cash could be used to plan a street party or a meal in a local community centre or scout hut. Ideas for outdoor events are welcome too; residents might want to plan a picnic or barbecue at an allotment site or in their local park. Whatever your idea, Area Forum funding could help to get it off the ground. Events like this can be a great opportunity to bring our communities closer together. The funds that will be handed out by the Area Forums are a good start for groups that are planning barbecues, street parties or more off-the-wall ways to celebrate.

So what are your ideas for the long weekend, the more original the better! To find out more and to download an application form, apply here. If you’d like some help, please contact me using the details on this site.

The Council is holding a consultation about local parks and open spaces.

I know that many of the people of Greasby, Frankby and Irby are passionate about our parks and open spaces.  here   is the link to take part and have your say.

Following the application by Greene King to build on the Red Cat car park there is to be a public meeting at Greasby Community Centre. This will provide local people with information about the application and allow them to express their response.  As a member of the Planning Committee I’ll going to be at the meeting on 4th January simply to hear the views of local people.

Councillor Tony Cox has made it clear that he will be joining residents and traders in their campaign against this latest planning application. He said, ” We need to do all we can to support our local shopping centres. It is clear that a supermarket  would harm Greasby’s local economy, making it less vibrant and diverse. I’d encourage all residents and business owners to make their views known on this latest application.”

I would encourage you to look at the planning application online and make your own decision. The Planning pages also provide a facility to make an online comment.