UPDATED: Slasher movie: Wirral Council spends £5,700 on 'cuts' video

4:52pm Wednesday 12th December 2012 in News Exclusive By Leigh Marles, Editor

Slasher movie: Wirral Council spends £5,700 on 'cuts' video Slasher movie: Wirral Council spends £5,700 on 'cuts' video

A video starring Wirral Council’s political leader and its chief executive explaining how to fill in a questionnaire over major budget cuts cost more than £5,700 to produce.

With Cllr Phil Davies and Graham Burgess preparing to release details of how they will slash a staggering £40m from the budget at next Thursday’s cabinet meeting, lavishing £5,770 of public cash for their video seems unlikely to receive universal approval.

And the council has admitted that only 1,500 people viewed the film on its wesbite.

Mills Media was commissioned to shoot the film following a competitive procedure, which involved obtaining quotes from three local companies, to produce the video for the “What Really Matters” public consultation exercise.

The video also featured “a number of staff” explaining the context of each question and giving instructions on how best to complete the form.

A statement released this week in response to a Freedom of Information request from Wirral resident Paul Cardin  says: “This video was not intended primarily to promote the project, but was rather designed to improve the accessibility of the consultation.”

Almost every service the council provides - from street lighting to children’s centres, lollipop patrols to care homes, library opening hours to road sweeping plus the maintaining of beaches and public parks - is under scrutiny with the public being asked to help form opinion on what should be axed and what will be spared.

Mr Burgess has already come in for criticism for spending £25,000 on refurbishing his own and other directors’ offices at Wallasey Town Hall.

He said the refurbishment was necessary as the council's directors are presently based at half-a-dozen different sites; having them all in the town hall would make for more cohesive management.

Justifying the revamp was not helped when it was revealed it had gone ahead without heritage planning consents needed to carry out modifications on the Grade II listed building, and the authority was forced to apply for “retro” permission for work that had already been done.

A council spokesman said: “The consultation underway across Wirral – and encompassing over 300,000 residents – is the largest and most important exercise of its kind ever conducted by the council.

“The savings the council is being forced to make as a consequence of central government cuts to funding mean that wholesale reform to the services we deliver or commission is inevitable.

“It is vital that everyone across the borough realises the severity of our position and has their say on the options for savings being proposed.

“These options vary in their complexity and nature and potentially have life-changing implications for many residents, including many with disabilities or learning difficulties who might find the standard questionnaire harder to access than others."

The spokesman continued: "To aid this, we produced various accessible tools such as easy-read and interactive versions of the consultation questionnaire, and three step-by-step video guides, covering each of the significant budget options being put forward.

“The cost of this film – which can be found on our website and have received almost 1,500 views – was £5,722.

"However, given our statutory obligation to consult with our residents, the wide-reach these films have had and, not least, the excellent feedback received from Wirral residents with learning disabilities, we are confident they represent good value.”

Comments(25)

PaulCa says...
5:26pm Wed 12 Dec 12

For dedicated horror fans, here's a link to the FoI request:

http://tinyurl.com/c
95qgts

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bigfoot says...
7:49pm Wed 12 Dec 12

So the known total stands at nearly £32000 or enough to pay 2 basic frontline workers!
Is Builder Burgess reprising his role as Frank Drebin or Pete Price?
Where can this masterpiece be viewed?

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dennis dart says...
8:11pm Wed 12 Dec 12

It is in Blockbusters

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Hugo1008 says...
9:40pm Wed 12 Dec 12

How about a video teaching session to teach Councilors:
Honesty, Morals, Ethics, Respect, Clarity, Decency, Humanity, and Truth.

Remember on top of the government introduced cuts, Wirral Borough Council elected officers have Governed, Agreed, and Fully Supported the wasting, and Concealment of vast sums of money close to 30 million and rising.

For the vast majority of the time under Labour or Labour/Liberal coalitions, not that excuses the Conservatives Party who themselves had a brief period in office, and failed miserably to do anything about it, too busy getting their snouts into the trough of plenty.

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cyfiawnder says...
3:08am Thu 13 Dec 12

When I get my form asking me what cuts I think should be made to services I will tick the 'no cuts please' box. Only joking as that option will never appear. The 'menu' will be carefully drawn up by the Chief Executive and his people. I would be wary of filling out the form as by doing so you will be tacitly agreeing that cuts be made in the first place. I intend to strike a line through all the options and write 'no cuts' on the form. This government has long wanted to do away with public services as far as possible, apart from the profitable parts which it will privatise, putting our public money into private hands. They love this recession as they can cut and privatise public services under the cloak of austerity, and blame it on problems that they 'inherited' from the last government. And what are our elected members doing to protect public services? Nothing! They haven't got the integrity and moral fiber to challenge the cuts. What if everyone on Wirral filled the form out saying they wanted to do away with all services for the elderly and disabled, or childrens services, would the council go along with that? Of course not. The council has a statutory responsibility in those things. Basically the council already knows where it can get away with making the cuts and has already made its mind up as to where the cuts will be made. This 'questionnaire' is just an exercise in spin. Considering the council is so strapped for cash it's amazing how much of our money they spend on trying to fool us into thinking they're acting in our best interests and doing a good job . And another thing. Will all this public money being saved mean a reduction in our council tax? Of course not. The ordinary person is being continually squeezed and conned. I for one can feel the pips coming out.

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No.9 says...
8:39am Thu 13 Dec 12

Is there anywhere we can see this video? Mills Media is OK by the way - very professional outfit!

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cyfiawnder says...
9:02am Thu 13 Dec 12

I have made an official complaint to the Globe about comments posted by boredofthis and Dennis Elbow. I believe that people who come on to these sites with the sole purpose of mischief making, to distract attention from the serious issues being discussed, and who abuse other posters, should be banned.

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MDRyUK says...
9:13am Thu 13 Dec 12

Often when reading forums operated by the Wirral Globe readers share information and views of genuine value. The fact people can use the cloak of anonymity contributing to them does not dilute meaning or purpose. In this digital age online forums are "self managed" provided t&c's are met, otherwise our comments may be deleted.

Wirral Globe's "Slasher movie: Wirral Council spends £5,700 on 'cuts' video" is a significant revelation. It helps bring into focus the so called Council's 'What Really Matters?' consultation scheme. Or as appears, weak and narrowly focused "consultation" scheme which isn't really a consultation scheme at all! What choice do we have in reality? Practically no choice at all.

Many allege leaders of the Council have already made their "choices" about the nature of cuts to cater for budget savings of £39 million in 2013-14 starting 1st April. Very sadly this will have a devastating impact reducing Council managed services right across the borough.

Why are the Council spending so much money on these videos which have little value to the people of Wirral? Is it really necessary? Is that what Really Matters! Is this simply a marketing and PR exercise?

Write or telephone your local councillor to ensure your message is received.

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WirralAl says...
9:39am Thu 13 Dec 12

cyfiawnder wrote:
I have made an official complaint to the Globe about comments posted by boredofthis and Dennis Elbow. I believe that people who come on to these sites with the sole purpose of mischief making, to distract attention from the serious issues being discussed, and who abuse other posters, should be banned.
Well done 100% agree and hope to never hear from them again.

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don't look back in anger says...
11:02am Thu 13 Dec 12

I would like to know for sure what the twenty five grand was spent on, because the last I was told, His office had a treadmill and shower fitted because he likes to have a run during the day. No this is not a wind up. I was told this by a council employee who's had a letter threatening their job. Over to the globe to find out if possible.

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smabo says...
11:12am Thu 13 Dec 12

don't look back in anger wrote:
I would like to know for sure what the twenty five grand was spent on, because the last I was told, His office had a treadmill and shower fitted because he likes to have a run during the day. No this is not a wind up. I was told this by a council employee who's had a letter threatening their job. Over to the globe to find out if possible.
Don't be so ridiculous!

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smabo says...
11:14am Thu 13 Dec 12

No.9 wrote:
Is there anywhere we can see this video? Mills Media is OK by the way - very professional outfit!
And a Birkenhead-based (not Liverpool) firm, if I'm not very much mistaken. So that little dig should probably be corrected.

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reliant22 says...
11:49am Thu 13 Dec 12

smabo wrote:
No.9 wrote:
Is there anywhere we can see this video? Mills Media is OK by the way - very professional outfit!
And a Birkenhead-based (not Liverpool) firm, if I'm not very much mistaken. So that little dig should probably be corrected.
So `SMAMBO`,
Why do we need this video no matter whether the `professional outfit` is from Outer Mongolia or deepest Birkenhead, is the video really necessary? I`m sure not, nor is any refurbishment of office space. People are living in poverty in Birkenhead and elsewhere in the Borough. We are contributing to food parcels for those poor people, and here is the Chief Executive of Wirral Borough Council on £100,000 (OR MORE) SALARY SPLASHING OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY ON SILLY THINGS.
`SMAMBO`time you declared an interest! I suspect you are very involved in the scheme of things at the Town Hall, It`s not Councillor Phil is it??

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smabo says...
11:54am Thu 13 Dec 12

Again, please don't be ridiculous, I'd just like people to get their facts right wherever possible, I think that's quite important.

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Dantealighieri says...
1:57pm Thu 13 Dec 12

Cyfiawder- Unlike WirralAl, I find your second post slightly po-faced with a little bit of the 'aren't I clever' school snitch about it. I will confess I am at a slight disadvantage because having just tuned in to this topic I missed the supposed 'abuse' dished out by Boredofthis and Dennis Elbow. Whatever it was, I am rather hoping it was directed at you, not for any other reason, than if it was, you can take whatever action you want. If however it was directed at other people, then you become one of those pursed lipped irritating 'If they insult you they insult me' busybodies. I've been visiting this site on and off for many years, and never once in all that time have I ever come across any contributors who couldn't defend themselves, who couldn't, come what may, take it on the chin, and dish it out in equal measure, and all have added to the gaiety of life. It would be a great shame if all that disappeared because some overcritical person gained any influence over what is acceptable and what isn't.

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boredofthis says...
2:03pm Thu 13 Dec 12

cyfiawnder wrote:
I have made an official complaint to the Globe about comments posted by boredofthis and Dennis Elbow. I believe that people who come on to these sites with the sole purpose of mischief making, to distract attention from the serious issues being discussed, and who abuse other posters, should be banned.
Have you called the Internet Police?

Uh oh.

I'm telling my mum off you!

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boredofthis says...
4:53pm Thu 13 Dec 12

WirralAl wrote:
cyfiawnder wrote:
I have made an official complaint to the Globe about comments posted by boredofthis and Dennis Elbow. I believe that people who come on to these sites with the sole purpose of mischief making, to distract attention from the serious issues being discussed, and who abuse other posters, should be banned.
Well done 100% agree and hope to never hear from them again.
Hiya!

*waves*

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No.9 says...
5:35pm Thu 13 Dec 12

smabo wrote:
No.9 wrote:
Is there anywhere we can see this video? Mills Media is OK by the way - very professional outfit!
And a Birkenhead-based (not Liverpool) firm, if I'm not very much mistaken. So that little dig should probably be corrected.
Didn't say they were a Liverpool firm.

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Positive thinker says...
7:28pm Thu 13 Dec 12

Bordedofthis,

Is entitled to his say

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smabo says...
9:56am Fri 14 Dec 12

No.9 wrote:
smabo wrote:
No.9 wrote:
Is there anywhere we can see this video? Mills Media is OK by the way - very professional outfit!
And a Birkenhead-based (not Liverpool) firm, if I'm not very much mistaken. So that little dig should probably be corrected.
Didn't say they were a Liverpool firm.
The story did, the reference has now been removed. Cheers Leigh.

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reliant22 says...
10:56am Fri 14 Dec 12

I wonder if `boredfthis`understa
nds that this `facility` is here to give Wirral Globe readers an opportunity to air their views on current issues as reported.
It IS NOT MEANT TO BE A PLATFORM FOR SLAGGING OFF OTHER POSTERS.
I guess there has to be one oddball (or two) everywhere,
Your initials wouldn`t be `CM` by any chance?
So` bordedofthis, perhaps your New Year resolution could be` must stick to the principle` if you know what that means, maybe Leigh Marles will explain.

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Jack Boot says...
3:41pm Fri 14 Dec 12

boredofthis you 've made me laugh keep up the good work, they say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but it takes a master to paint children's pictures.

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LifeHacker says...
8:29am Mon 17 Dec 12

boredofthis wrote:
WirralAl wrote:
cyfiawnder wrote:
I have made an official complaint to the Globe about comments posted by boredofthis and Dennis Elbow. I believe that people who come on to these sites with the sole purpose of mischief making, to distract attention from the serious issues being discussed, and who abuse other posters, should be banned.
Well done 100% agree and hope to never hear from them again.
Hiya!

*waves*
Nobhead

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LifeHacker says...
8:29am Mon 17 Dec 12

boredofthis wrote:
cyfiawnder wrote:
I have made an official complaint to the Globe about comments posted by boredofthis and Dennis Elbow. I believe that people who come on to these sites with the sole purpose of mischief making, to distract attention from the serious issues being discussed, and who abuse other posters, should be banned.
Have you called the Internet Police?

Uh oh.

I'm telling my mum off you!
**** Muppet

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David Scott says...
10:36am Wed 19 Dec 12

It is deeply engrained in some political and bureaucratic circles that public expenditure is a 'good thing' regardless of what it is spent on. This includes stuff that anyone with an ounce of sense would see as waste.

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