Major protest expected as Wirral councillors meet to begin multi-million pound cost-cutting process

5:08pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News

Flashback to anti-cuts protest at Wallasey Town Hall in November 2012 Flashback to anti-cuts protest at Wallasey Town Hall in November 2012

A MAJOR protest is expected tonight as Wirral Council's cabinet meets to decide the first phase of a massive cost-cutting programme.

The civic hall at Wallasey Town Hall is being readied to accommodate the high numbers expected to turn up to hear staff terms and conditions debated - it is anticipated substantial reductions in redundancy payments will be agreed.

The council has sent out more than 3,000 letters to workers informing them their positions are on the "at risk" list.

Up to 700 could lose their jobs as the authority seeks to find ways to reduce its spending by £77m over this financial year.

Also on the agenda tonight are nominations for Mayor of Wirral with the former leader of the council, Cllr Steve Foulkes, being tipped to be Labour's choice to take office in 2014.

More later...

Comments(26)

Positive thinker says...
5:16pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Looks like all the diehards will be out in force

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Cheesy Peas says...
5:20pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Cllr Foulkes as mayor.

Now there's a prospect to be considered while lying down in a dark room with a cold compress on one's forehead.

Are these people serious?

This is the man who wanted to close among other things half of our libraries.

By all means put a chain around his neck - but lock it to some railings so we can throw old fruit at him.

Short memories at the town hall - as EVER.

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don't look back in anger says...
6:43pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Protest all they like, it won't change a thing. The cuts are going thru, like it or not.

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PaulCa says...
8:48pm Thu 7 Feb 13

I know some of the protestors - they're old colleagues of mine pre-2003. A couple of them have been through hell after complaining to a certain Social Services Director, and getting nowhere - and I totally sympathise with their plight.

However some of them are not so easy to forgive. These are the ones who tended to go AWOL when there was a one-day strike - and either hit the sick or go on holiday, only to return with palms outstretched when the pay rises were being handed out.

These are the people who helped managers to build a phantom case against me built around my 'bullying'.

Now ask me whether I sympathise with THESE people - the ones who did their best to toady up to managers and have me sacked - The answer's no - I hope they lose their jobs, because they fully deserve it.

After I won my case, resigned and came to the office to collect my things, although their cars were in the car park, they were nowhere to be seen in the office. They had hidden somewhere safe until the coast was clear.

And that's the measure of them. Cowards. I've moved on now, and if they lose their jobs they'll have to do the same. But with no bosses to bail them out, this time. And that could be tough.

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Boredofthis2 says...
9:44pm Thu 7 Feb 13

PaulCa wrote:
I know some of the protestors - they're old colleagues of mine pre-2003. A couple of them have been through hell after complaining to a certain Social Services Director, and getting nowhere - and I totally sympathise with their plight.

However some of them are not so easy to forgive. These are the ones who tended to go AWOL when there was a one-day strike - and either hit the sick or go on holiday, only to return with palms outstretched when the pay rises were being handed out.

These are the people who helped managers to build a phantom case against me built around my 'bullying'.

Now ask me whether I sympathise with THESE people - the ones who did their best to toady up to managers and have me sacked - The answer's no - I hope they lose their jobs, because they fully deserve it.

After I won my case, resigned and came to the office to collect my things, although their cars were in the car park, they were nowhere to be seen in the office. They had hidden somewhere safe until the coast was clear.

And that's the measure of them. Cowards. I've moved on now, and if they lose their jobs they'll have to do the same. But with no bosses to bail them out, this time. And that could be tough.
"I've moved on now"

I don't quite know what to say.

You carry on, good sir.

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FarooqB says...
9:47pm Thu 7 Feb 13

I sincerely sympathise with the ordinary decent hard working guys with families to look after - I found myself in the similar sitautions twice working for 4 local Authorities, but don't have any sympathy at all for DASS hierachy, who are above PO4 grade. Some of them are most corrupt I have ever come across, plotting against others & destroying other human beings. If they happen to be in the firing line, then this the best thing ever coming to them.

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FarooqB says...
10:18pm Thu 7 Feb 13

I forgot to mention, the prospect of having Steve Foulkes as a Mayor. I had some correspondance with him, and to be honest - All Talk, No Substance. But others like former council leader, Jeff Green, and the current leader, Phil Davies are not any better. Judge them yourself what they tell the press, in front of the cameras and WHAT they actually do and practice. The 4 weeks delay of care to Wirral Vulnerable residents saga plus disabled abuse, highlighted in AKA report says it all. Where were these Councillors, all 64 of them when all of this abuse was going on. They are equally to blame, rather than holding only those chief officers who buggered off with public money of £811,000 - so far. Many more are waiting in the pipeline to be awarded the same price - FOR FAILING.

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PaulCa says...
10:40pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Thanks for your comments FarooqB. Yet another person who seems to have had a rough deal from these chancers.

This council has an immense amount of suffering to answer for and when the central government hit squad / public enquiry / judicial enquiry finally arrives, it won't be a moment too soon.

We've had plenty of time to judge these people and the verdict is a massive thumbs down. I can't think how any council tax payer could sanction and approve of what they've been up to - power abusing, disabled abusing, cheating, lying, covering up, rewarding crooks and squandering our money for decades.

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antisthenes says...
11:09pm Thu 7 Feb 13

In the corrupted culture of Wirral Council where the natural laws of justice and honour are inverted; failure is always rewarded.

Hence Foulkes' catastrophic tenure as Council Leader is no barrier to his elevation to the Mayoralty.

Nor was the pitiful performance of his long time Chief Officer Steve Maddox an impediment to his being awarded an OBE for his 'services to local government'.

I confidently expect Jeff Green to be honoured with an MOT for his services to the road transport industry.

And surely it is only a matter of time until Phil Davies picks up a Birkenhead Bafta for his role as Best Crony in a Supporting Role.

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Thepleb says...
10:20am Fri 8 Feb 13

Once again wirral councils timing is priceless, on the evening to discuss cuts to services and jobs they are having a vote for the next mayor.
And step forward labours vote Foulksey a man who failed the people of Wirral and abandoned the titanic that was the good ship destination excellence.
He jumped ship before walking the plank and now they want to give him the chains and limo and the all inclusive option for a year.
We don't need a mayor to carry out civic duties we have 66 cllrs who I am sure if the food is free and the expenses cheque is in the post will turn up for the opening of an envelope.

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Hon says...
10:22am Fri 8 Feb 13

FYI it was positive outcome for workers

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TheAngryDuck says...
10:26am Fri 8 Feb 13

Must agree with 'Dont look back in anger' this is all a big carry on, Big meetings where the Fat cats pretend to discuss options as if the decisions haven't already been made on golf courses and club houses. They know EXACTlY what they are going to do and when, they know how the council workers wil react and what unison will do it all sucks and they will look after themselves while pretending to care about the community. Unfortunatly Unison will do nothing, maybe the odd 1 day strike to try to justify the monthly fees they charge us and loose us all a few days pay, grow some nuts Unison announce 1 weeks strike at the beginning of every month until compulsary redundancies are scrapped, shove your pathetic 1 day strikes they are pointless....

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Thepleb says...
10:35am Fri 8 Feb 13

Hon wrote:
FYI it was positive outcome for workers
What was positive for the workers getting 1.8 a week for each year worked when you lose your job well sorry for not popping the champagne cork just yet,after 20 years that will be a mind blowing £16,000 well lucky me I will be off on the qe2 o no forgot about my mortgage,bills and my family,positive my arse.

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Positive thinker says...
12:30pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Have they not been given what they are entitled to?

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bigfoot says...
2:43pm Fri 8 Feb 13

So the Fat Controller is to be 'Mr Mayor'
Saints preserve us!

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RL 1952 says...
2:56pm Fri 8 Feb 13

FarooqB wrote:
I sincerely sympathise with the ordinary decent hard working guys with families to look after - I found myself in the similar sitautions twice working for 4 local Authorities, but don't have any sympathy at all for DASS hierachy, who are above PO4 grade. Some of them are most corrupt I have ever come across, plotting against others & destroying other human beings. If they happen to be in the firing line, then this the best thing ever coming to them.
Well said the sooner someone takes notice of the totally inadequate and unacceptable malpractice of those at the top of DASS and ensure they are removed from their posts the better, the AKA cost residents of Wirral £250K to uncover the appalling behaviour, but the now council leader has seen fit to corruptly join the malpractice and sweep its findings under the carpet, which begs the question - WHY? Has the man no honesty or integrity or is he just lacking in backbone - vulnerable suffered the most horrendous behaviour but the council leader acts to hide the findings and protect those implcated and complicit in the malpractice SHAME ON YOU CLLR DAVIES, SHAME ON YOU GRHAM BURGESS.

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PaulCa says...
4:55pm Fri 8 Feb 13

And here's what Foulkes was doing in 2002 - coining it in with a 36% rise in his Special Responsibility Allowance.

http://tinyurl.com/a
m39d4m

Yes, taxpayers - he was actually rewarded 12 times more than the increase for staff for overseeing dodgy accounting, power abuse, bullying of whistleblowers and the longterm abuse of our vulnerable people.... and much more (obviously)

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johnhardaker says...
5:29pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Can I suggest to people reading & commenting on this article they read the council minutes of the 7th Febuary & see what the councilors have agreed to with the Enhanced discretionary severance scheme & work out for yourselves just how much it is going to cost the ratepayers of wirral again, also letting people retire at 55 on a pension again funded by ratepayers ,Who Else!!!!!!.
As far as Steve Foulkes for mayor again another sick joke after him overseeing the fiasco of the labour administration over the previous decade it would be a reward for incompetence if ever there was one.He will be mayor of that there is no doubt as his majority mates on the council will vote him in anyway.
Never mind Foulkes for mayor bring in the commissioners & try to run wirral council as a business instead of an old boys club. Anybody who reads the minutes and agrees with my opinion please let me know

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Thepleb says...
5:33pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Positive thinker wrote:
Have they not been given what they are entitled to?
No.
We would be entitled to know who has caused these huge mis calculations in previous budgets and the cllrs who have overseen these calamities should be removed ASAP.
Council workers are tax payers too and it is also our council tax that has been squandered by a select few who are not to be named and its the lower paid workers who feel the brunt of the cuts.

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dave301bounty says...
6:38pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Not being a resident of Wallasey anymore have watched this council do some really dirty work in the way they treat there workforce ,and residents ,plus also the way that places have changed ,and not for the better .I cannot understand why it has ,the council, be allowed to do these things ,there must be a big run on brown envelopes ,I got a shock when I was over there at new brighton ,shocked to see the mess that has become of the area at the model boating lake ,now the ground on the other side is being turned into some thing I am sure is not required,what a mess ,yes a mess ,come on somebody nail your colours to the mast ,stop the play acting do the job you are paid to do ,run the council /borough as you should ,you are being paid to do a proper job ,not a panto,,,,,

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Positive thinker says...
7:35pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Hey Pleb why should they get anymore than what there legal entitled to,if they had a normal job they wouldn't get anymore,as for the new Mayor to be if the Queen was elected you probably slag her of along with all the other idiots

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Thepleb says...
12:21am Sat 9 Feb 13

Positive thinker wrote:
Hey Pleb why should they get anymore than what there legal entitled to,if they had a normal job they wouldn't get anymore,as for the new Mayor to be if the Queen was elected you probably slag her of along with all the other idiots
Mr thinker
Redundancy was set at 2.2 weeks with enhanced rates which the directors recently took full advantage of before the the rules were changed for the lesser mortals.
The mayor is not an essential service and should not be funded by public money along with Her Majesty the Queen.

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Hugo1008 says...
9:55am Sat 9 Feb 13

I thought that Moria Mac took the position of Mayor to a new low level with her treatment and expertise in the Whistle Blower saga.

But it seems Wirral can go even lower with Slimy Steve, what a wonderful ambassador for Wirral Council.

Not satisfied as being recognised as the worst managed local authority in the land, now bidding for the title of the most cynical to boot.

Let us Recap: Graham Bugess CEO brought in on a temporary contract, highly acclaimed and congratulated by the ruling Labour Cabinet. very quickl given a permanaet Contract for his good work. Almost before he had done any.

Graham Burgess CEO in his wisdom reconmends any redundancy pay out should be statuary levels, due to the fiancial situation.
Labour Cabinet, chooses to ignore that well meamt advice and do something different. Like pay outeven more money we do not have.

Question: What the hell are we employing CEO Graham Burgess for if the Ruling Labour Council will not let him do his job, and that is to save money and get Wirral out of the financial mess that Wirral Borough Councilors got us into in he first place.

You could not make this up if you tried, its an abolute farce but not comical, deadly serious.

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MX says...
10:41am Sat 9 Feb 13

This is being completely stage managed as those who witnessed them practising their lines in a nearby committee room before the meeting will testify.

Interesting parallels with central government who justify their real agenda to dismantle public services on the back of " the deficit".

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Hiutsuri says...
11:59am Sun 10 Feb 13

Cammell Laird Shipyard,Birkenhead have made a man redundant 1 week before death.
On informing them his only treatment was palliative Cammell Laird made the employee redundant.
The man died one week later.
His widow was therefore not entitled to death in service benefit.
Contact the following for further information.

Cammell Laird HR Manager Danny Hart
Cammell Laird Chief Executive John Syvret

MP:Frank Field / Alison McGovern
Union:Amicus / Unite / Graham Daley

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Positive thinker says...
5:39pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Don't want to sound unsympathetic but can't work out what the last point has to do with the original story

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