Is it the end of the (potholed) road?

Time has finally run out for Councillor Steve Foulkes and his discredited Labour Administration. The Klonowski Report has revealed failings which are matters for the Police and which have horrified people across this Borough.  So I’m pleased that Cllr Jeff Green has submitted a resolution calling for the removal of Cllr Foulkes as Leader, which will be considered by Council on Monday 13 February.  It’s an open meeting and members of the public are invited to attend.  It starts at 5.30pm.

Steve Foulkes was in control of the Council when these abuses were carried out and not properly investigated, therefore he must take ultimate responsibility.  He did all he could to prevent and block calls from the Conservative Group for an independent inquiry into Martin Morton’s revelations of abuse of some of our most vulnerable residents and it is only because of the previous Conservative Liberal Democrat administration that these facts and potential criminality have now become known to the rest of us.

Currently the Council is in a state of paralysis, the Labour Administration’s response to this report has been shambolic.  Vital information is still being withheld and two senior officers were allowed to leave with council taxpayers’ money in their pockets the day before the AKA report was made public.

A fresh approach is what is required and to refocus the Council on its true role of providing services to the communities and people of Wirral, so I hope this ‘motion of no confidence’ succeeds.

UPDATE:  The Globe reports here.

The full motion of no confidence is reproduced below:

Wallasey Area Forum

The next New Brighton & Wallasey Area Forum is to be held on Wednesday 1 February 2012 at New Brighton Primary School, Vaughan Road starting at 6.30 until 8.30pm. 

The Area Forum has representation from many different organisations, including the Council (Streetscene), Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Wirral University Hospital Trust and NHS Wirral and of course your local councillors!

This is an opportunity for you to come along, find out what’s going on in your area, ask questions of the team, air your views or simply have your say!

Hope to see you there.

Be Loud, Be Clear on bowel cancer

Sixteen years ago, my best friend, Julie, died from bowel cancer.  Her husband was devastated and so were her children; a son aged 11 years and a daughter aged 5 years.  The day after she died it was being reported in the press that a ‘potential’ cure had been found for bowel cancer.  Sadly, it seems that although huge strides have been made in the treatment of bowel cancer since then, not everyone can be cured.

It was too late for Dorothy Lewis who tragically died of this terrible, distressing disease, after a two year battle, last week.  Dot was the mother of one of my best friends, Cllr Ian Lewis, and I’ve known her for many years.  She was a lovely lady.  RIP.

Yesterday was the start of ‘Be loud, Be Clear Week’ – organised by Beating Bowel Cancer.  Ian is ‘doing his bit’ to raise awareness of this terrible disease (go to his blog to find out more).  In the meantime;

Visit the Be Loud, Be Clear page on the Beating Bowel Cancer website or the page on the Department for Health site.  Next Monday also sees the start of the Government’s first-ever national advertising campaign on bowel cancer.

Staying as part of the community

All Saints Church

Good news!  All Saints C of E Church in Hose Side Road has been saved  from a developer and the bulldozer and will not be turned into offices or flats.

The Church has been bought by the Jubilee Church Wirral (subject to final legal checks). The Wirral based Evangelical group having been looking for new premises for some time and hope to be moving in there by the summer.

I’ve been to All Saints many times and I know parishioners and local people were worried about the possibility of redevelopment so I’m delighted that it will stay as a place of worship – it’s a fabulous building and very much part of the community.

All Saints Church was designed by the same architect who created Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral – read more HERE.

Asleep at the wheel

People may remember how the Labour Council overcharged vulnerable adults with learning difficulties for their care.  This came to light because of a ‘whistleblower’ – Martin Morton, who worked for the Council and whose job it was to protect these vulnerable adults, who tried, on several occasions, to have the overcharging brought to an end.

During his 12 months as Leader of the Council, one of the first acts of Cllr Jeff Green was to commission the independent investigation, led by Anna Klonowski, to report into the way in which Wirral’s vulnerable adults were cared for.

Today, despite a long delay, the full report has finally been published.

You can read Cllr Green’s comments in full here - I think his final paragraph sums it up:

‘What is clear is that Foulkes and his administration were asleep at the wheel, politicising all our attempts to highlight the appalling treatment of some of the most vulnerable people in our society’.

and…

‘We saw Martin Morton bullied, belittled and browbeaten…….now the whole Borough can see how the Council has treated its staff and the people it was supposed to be caring for’.

I have met Martin Morton a couple of times and have been impressed by his honesty and integrity.  I’m delighted that he has been vindicated – again.

Road and pavements to be repaired in Wallasey

Potholes.  Uneven flags.  Loose kerb stones.  Worn tarmac – these are just some of the most frequent complaints of our pavements which we receive on the doorstep.  They present hazards for road users and pedestrians.  I am pleased to report that, even while money is tight as we try to reduce our debts, cash has been found to tackle some of the problems in our community.  I’ m pleased to report that the Government has given the Council almost £3 million for repairs and it is planned to spend some of this money locally:

• Belvidere Road (from Kingsway  to Britannia Road) – £30,874 on the road surface
• Hose Side Road – £18,662 on the road surface
• Wallasey Village (from Stonehouse Road to School Lane) – £60,000 resurface road
• Cromer Drive – £13,392 on the road surface
• Southbourne Road – £5,424 on the road surface
• Longacre Close – £7,344 on the road surface
• Tancred Road – £6,408 on the road surface
• Beaufort Drive – £9,600 on the road surface (which I have complained about before)
• Broadway Avenue – £16,848  on the road surface

There is still around £20,000 for road and pavement repairs in Wallasey and a meeting is planned for the end of the month to agree how this should be spent.  If you know of any roads or pavements that could do with some attention, let me know.

Cold Weather Payments have been increased for this winter

This is the first full winter when Cold Weather Payments can be paid at the new, permanent rate of £25 for every week that it’s really cold. It used to be £8.50.

Between 1st November and 31st March, the payment is made for every seven days that the temperature locally is below freezing, or forecast to be.  The payment is made automatically to pensioners receiving Pension Credit, along with people receiving Income Support and with a disabled child or child under five.

To check if the local temperature qualifies for the Cold Weather Payment, click here

The Cold Weather Payment is on top of the Winter Fuel Payment of £200 (or £300 if over 80).

Dial 101 for Merseyside Police

Earlier this month Merseyside Police launched a new number for non-emergency issues.  101 is the number to call when you want to contact your local police and when it’s less urgent than a 999 call.  101 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You should call 101 for damage to property, theft, minor traffic collisions, suspect criminal behaviour/ anti social behaviour, your car has been stolen, your property damaged and minor traffic collisions.  Calls cost 15p, regardless of duration and this applies to landlines and mobile calls.   For more information about the new service go to www.police.uk/101

In the case of emergencies, please continue to use the 999 service for crimes in progress, danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

Nominate someone for Wirral Youth Heroes Awards!

I’m really pleased to see the creation of the Wirral Youth Heroes Awards – which rewards those who make a positive contribution to their community.  If there is someone in your neighbourhood who is making a difference, visit www.youthheroes.org.uk and nominate them. Nominations can also be made over the phone by calling 0151 647 8400 or by writing to Youth Heroes, 128 Claughton Road, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 6EY.

The awards, which are all to be sponsored by local businesses, will be presented to the winners at a prestigious gala awards dinner at Thornton Hall Hotel on the 24th February 2012, with the overall winner taking home a brand new iPad2.

There are nine awards categories:

• Great Sporting Achievement
• Contribution to the Arts
• Overcoming Illness/Disability
• Courage & Bravery
• Enterprise
• Educational Achievement
• Community Action
• Inspirational Volunteer
• Young Carer

The closing date for nominations is the 31st January 2012 and the high profile Gala Awards Dinner will take place on the 24th February 2012 at Thornton Hall Hotel. Nominees must be between 11 and 19 years old on the 24th February 2012.

Road Safety Review

With parents outside St George's Primary School on Claremount Road

Improving safety on Wirral’s roads for children should be a priority for the council.  Road safety around our local schools is an important and ongoing issue.  So when I was contacted by parents who were concerned about speeding traffic along Claremount Road and badly parked cars near to St George’s Primary School, making it unsafe for children to walk to and from school, I decided to ask the Council for a full Road Safety Review of the area.

I’ve collected a large petition of signatures of parents and local people who are all keen for action.  The petition was presented at full Council on Monday night – the Council now have a legal obligation to carry out a full review.

Last year, the Conservative-led Council approved a £1.1 million programme over four years to broaden the introduction of 20mph speed limits on residential roads and near schools across Wirral.  But despite the money being available right now, not a single residential 20mph scheme has been introduced since Labour were elected to run the Council this year.

Apparently they’re waiting for ‘detailed guidance’ from the Government about the implementation of 20mph zones.

How detailed does it have to be?  what about residential roads near to our schools for starters?