Wirral council tax increased and services reduced (From Wirral Globe)
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Wirral council tax increased and services reduced
10:18am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Stephanie Cureton
Wallasey Town Hall: Protestors gathered to object to cuts in services last night
WIRRAL's council tax is to increase by 2% this year while at the same time public services are to be hit by £42m of cuts.
The ruling Labour group’s controversial budget was approved last night as hundreds of protestors rallied at Wallasey Town Hall to object against the cost-cutting measures.
Many of them were parents and carers of vulnerable people affected by the proposed closure of one of the borough’s three adult day centres providing services for those with physical and learning disabilities.
Other controversial moves include 350 staff redundancies, ending council sponsorship of Tranmere Rovers FC, reducing maintenance of parks and gardens and closing local youth clubs in favour of a new £1m “youth hub” in Birkenhead.
A 14,000-name petition calling for day centres to be spared the axe was presented to the authority.
A similar 1,631-name protest - organised by young people from Bromborough youth club - against the closure of up to 11 local clubs was also handed in.
Council leader Cllr Phil Davies said the decisions were the most difficult yet to be faced by the local authority, but he blamed reduced Government funding for making them necessary.
He said: “Faced with a disgraceful settlement from the Tory-Lib Dem coalition Wirral Council has been forced to set a budget that makes cuts to services unavoidable.
"As I have repeatedly stated, this is not what I came into politics to do.
"However, I have a duty to those I am elected to serve, and particularly the most vulnerable in society, to set a legal budget."
He said there will be a three-month consultation period with users of adult day centres in which they and their families would be able to submit alternative proposals.
The budget sets out that either Eastham, Moreton or Heswall day centre will be closed.
Tory and Liberal Democrat groups both called for all three centres to stay open, with Conservative leader Cllr Jeff Green saying Labour’s budget was being made “on the backs of Wirral’s most vulnerable.”
Councillor Green also argued the authority should have accepted a £1.3m Government grant offered to help town halls across the country to freeze council tax this year.
But Cllr Davies said it would be unwise to do so as the extra cash this year would only have to be repaid in 2015.
Liberal Democrat councillor Stuart Kelly called for a review of the proposed "youth zone" for Birkenhead.
“We need to rethink this project in the light of the petition. The young people were clear they hadn’t been consulted about these plans or the options available," he said.
"Their initial reaction was to ask for the £1m to be used to improve existing local facilities and to ask how they are going to be able to access a centralised hub from areas like Bromborough, Greasby and Moreton.
“These big hubs are very often just vanity projects for local councils but we should be asking the people who use the youth services - the young people themselves - what they think we should be doing.”
Labour’s budget was passed by 37 votes to 26.
Comments(56)
bigfoot
says...
10:44am Wed 6 Mar 13
Spin and corruption has dogged the Council for years. Sadly the authorities ie police etc haven't the balls to tackle it.
Why not put day centres in golf clubs? They seem to be sacrosanct yet the vulnerable people you are here to serve have been ignored disgracefully the senior officers who have been paid very attractive salaries have been compliant-SHAME ON YOU!
ginger26
says...
11:07am Wed 6 Mar 13
WirralAl
says...
11:40am Wed 6 Mar 13
bigfoot wrote:I agree the "Duly Elected" have screwed us all over Again.
Whingeing Davies strikes again! Your own incompetence over the years and cover ups also are a contributory factor to the state you find yourselves AND us in.
Spin and corruption has dogged the Council for years. Sadly the authorities ie police etc haven't the balls to tackle it.
Why not put day centres in golf clubs? They seem to be sacrosanct yet the vulnerable people you are here to serve have been ignored disgracefully the senior officers who have been paid very attractive salaries have been compliant-SHAME ON YOU!
How many of the 66 have been made redundant?
None. The liars and cheats are all laughing all the way to the bank.
Well done Wirral Borough Council and its many clowns. YOU are all a disgrace and have failed the people who elect you.
smiler69
says...
1:15pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Sallyjord
says...
1:33pm Wed 6 Mar 13
If we are paying more but getting less then WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR...
Answer;
Fat cat councilors expense's .....love to see these councilors do it as a volunteer.
As for SMILER69 its easy and a cop out to always blame the government, true they have capped lots of councils but if the councilors are working for us and care about use, like I said why dont they give up their expenses if they care that much ?.
Positive thinker
says...
1:45pm Wed 6 Mar 13
smiler69
says...
2:00pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Sallyjord wrote:Yes part of any reduction could be offset by getting councillors to work on our benefit, but sorry, there is no way all the councillors expenses could compensate for the cuts.
I would like to ask a question.....
If we are paying more but getting less then WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR...
Answer;
Fat cat councilors expense's .....love to see these councilors do it as a volunteer.
As for SMILER69 its easy and a cop out to always blame the government, true they have capped lots of councils but if the councilors are working for us and care about use, like I said why dont they give up their expenses if they care that much ?.
The Government has not capped councils, they have reduced the amount of money they give us out of the Revenue Support Grant like they have done, year on year, but not to this sort of Level!!!!
Also as far as i know, the increase in Council Tax is made up from money going to the Police and Merseyside Fire not the actual council, read your bill when you get it before saying the council is screwing us for more money.
smiler69
says...
2:10pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Note: Sallyjord:- Yes we are paying more Council Tax, but the councils money is dropping by over £40 Million this year 12013/14, so they have alot less money to spend, a 2% increase in Council Tax does not make the short fall, not even close.
Maybe we need to push for reducing the number of Councillors, why do we need 3 Councillors per ward, as we are loosing approx 30% of our net budget, lets call for a third reduction in councillors, this will be a big help and prove they are in it together (Are you listening Jeff Green)
Hon
says...
2:59pm Wed 6 Mar 13
The key difference for Wirral over other areas is that the Adult and Childrens Social Care budget has sky rocketed which has certainly tipped the balance. Other areas probably have more people who can afford to care for themselves and not rely on the state. Thats the big difference.
smiler69
says...
3:16pm Wed 6 Mar 13
I believe that all the preceps have increased by 2% which means the Council will have 25 more from Council Tax (not a total budget increase of 2%) as I believe that the money raised from Council Tax makes less that 40% (it might even be less than 30%) of the total amount of money it gets from Council Tax and the revenue Support Grant from the Government,
smiler69
says...
3:17pm Wed 6 Mar 13
smiler69 wrote:should read "
Additional:-
I believe that all the preceps have increased by 2% which means the Council will have 25 more from Council Tax (not a total budget increase of 2%) as I believe that the money raised from Council Tax makes less that 40% (it might even be less than 30%) of the total amount of money it gets from Council Tax and the revenue Support Grant from the Government,
will have 2% more from Council Tax"
not 25
cheers
smiler69
says...
3:22pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Hon wrote:Not right, the reason for the problems is having over 40 million cut from our Revenue Support Grant (from the Government) and an increase in our costs for Care for the elderly, ie DASS (Department for Adult Social Services) budget increasing year on year (also the CYPD - Childrens and Young Persons Department).
The talk about the cuts and why Wirral is being hit harder is probably a lot down to overspend from countless years of mis-management and over employment. Wirral council had a lot of non-jobs and when Labour were in government they ploughed more into Local Council's to get people employed.
The key difference for Wirral over other areas is that the Adult and Childrens Social Care budget has sky rocketed which has certainly tipped the balance. Other areas probably have more people who can afford to care for themselves and not rely on the state. Thats the big difference.
These 2 departments have gone over budgets year on year. Yes our Council has had issues over mismanagement, like lots of Councils over the years.
swintonwolf
says...
3:50pm Wed 6 Mar 13
smiler69
says...
4:03pm Wed 6 Mar 13
swintonwolf wrote:Dont agree, to be honest, most parties are the same, its not just Labour who has mismanaged, all the others have at some point.
The national government is attacking people with disabilities through years of Labour mismanagement my local council ha been run by Labour for 40 years and they can't be kicked out
The difference is the Conservatives are using the funding as a stick against a majority of Labour Councils, open your eyes!!!!
pooboy
says...
4:05pm Wed 6 Mar 13
If not,go to wetherspoons in your shell suits and shoes,with your pint of strongbow in your hand at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon(giro day),and shout at the screens on BBC News how you could do a better job than the prime minister.
Also,why did WBC used to sponsor TRFC? For free and corporate tickets......
Why the hell do I want my council to sponsor the local football team??!!!
At least sponsor Man City(well the matchball is all they could afford) so they get some worldwide promotion.
WirralAl
says...
4:50pm Wed 6 Mar 13
smiler69 wrote:How short is your memory Smiler 69?
Normal Idiots commenting on something they don't know about, the reason for all the cuts is THIS GOVERNMENT hitting councils, THEY are the ones sourcing the cuts, Councils are always a easy hit. Anyone remember Jeff Green (Conservative) giving millions away a year ago. The worst hit councils seem to have to be majority run Labour councils, the least hit seem to be a majority run by Conservatives no surprise. NOTE: FibDems shut up you have caused most of the trouble for a taste of power, they cannot be taken seriously!!!!
Perhaps it is you that is so ignorant that you don't know the facts.
Labour are the idiots who spent all the money and bailed out all the banks and sold most of the countries gold so that they could look good and stay in charge.
When they got in power last time the country was in the best position it had been in for years.
They came up with so many mickey mouse schemes like EMA.
House prices rocketed.
Personal debt has rocketed
Immigration has rocketed.
Spent billions on wars.
Created the best welfare scheme so that most people didn't want to work.
So what did Labour actually do that was so good? Please tell me!
Which idiot said " No more boom and bust" whilst helping his banker mates have a free hand.
I guess you are a Labour supporter but they are no supporters of the working class. They are right behind the big wigs and allowed so much stupidity.
You are deluded and need to look at the facts. Not the propaganda put out by the labour party who created the mess that we are all having to pay for.
Wirral's Labour party have thrown so much money in the bin it is beyond belief.
WirralAl
says...
4:54pm Wed 6 Mar 13
pooboy wrote:At least we know what time you get to wetherspoons!
If you all think you can do a better job,than apply to be a councillor.
If not,go to wetherspoons in your shell suits and shoes,with your pint of strongbow in your hand at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon(giro day),and shout at the screens on BBC News how you could do a better job than the prime minister.
Also,why did WBC used to sponsor TRFC? For free and corporate tickets......
Why the hell do I want my council to sponsor the local football team??!!!
At least sponsor Man City(well the matchball is all they could afford) so they get some worldwide promotion.
craigot89
says...
5:11pm Wed 6 Mar 13
WirralAl
says...
5:52pm Wed 6 Mar 13
craigot89 wrote:That was when the Labour Party acted for the people now that act for themselves. The Labour Party have screwed us for years!
If anyone reading this is wondering how this government is getting away with destroying our country by taking away jobs, services and opportunities from its people just look at the lack of intelligence and the level of ignorance found on this one comments page. Then do a bit of research regarding the 1945 Labour Party Manifesto when people stop believing the lies of the ruling class and took charge of their own country. It was far from perfect but look what was achieved - jobs, housing, NHS, welfare state, all at a time when the country was bankrupt and ruined from war. Now when you put things like that their really is no excuse for what is happening, but we would rather play childish games of he said she said than stand up and take control once again. The Labour cllrs who voted through this budget are a disgrace to the legacy of their party and to the people of Wirral. Whether it is through changing the Labour Party from the inside or through another form of representation working class will have their voices heard once again, they just need to turn the tele off
Positive thinker
says...
7:28pm Wed 6 Mar 13
keen gardener
says...
8:26pm Wed 6 Mar 13
antisthenes
says...
9:06pm Wed 6 Mar 13
“These big hubs are very often just vanity projects for local councils but we should be asking the people who use the youth services - the young people themselves - what they think we should be doing''.
The term youth hub pre-suppose that there will be satellite youth centres. However with the cuts to community based youth clubs the model breaks apart and is completely worthless.
The location in down town Birkenhead renders the facility inaccessible to the majority of young people who in any case would prefer a club in their own backyard.
On top of which the new hub is five minutes walk from the Birkenhead Girls and Boys club and next door to Charing Cross Youth Club?
You could not make it up. That is unless you consider that it's a good news media opportunity for Davies and his cronies..
I can see it now with rictus grin and chrome scissors in hand Wirral Mayor Steve Fatty Foulkes cuts the ribbon and declares this a great day for the youth of Wirral.
And its the same utter stupidity that allowed Davies et al to be persuaded by a crank like Frank Field to nod £300k in funding for an ill considered experimental child poverty project.
A project that will duplicate and displace existing voluntary sector services.
Jayo
says...
9:10pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Jimrob
says...
10:07pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Let me remind you that this is just "Round One"
I can't help wondering that perhaps, in three years time,(after "Round Three") we might end up with a Local Authority staff register made up entirely of countless overpaid Senior Officers and 66 elected bafoons, all sitting round one huge Boardroom Table, wondering what had happened, where everyone else who used to work for the Council had gone and what they were going to say now there was no one else left to blame.
community counts
says...
11:24pm Wed 6 Mar 13
JohnON
says...
7:42am Thu 7 Mar 13
bickyboy
says...
9:42am Thu 7 Mar 13
The last Labour government threw money around like it was going out of fashion, thus handing the next Tory led government the perfect excuse for cutting funding, particularly to Labour councils. Wirral just happened to be in such a mess due to mismanagement by ALL parties and in Labour hands due to the customary "pig with a red rosette" voting culture of certain Wirral areas that it made for a perfect target.
Does ANYONE in government, local or otherwise come out of this sorry mess with any credit?
uncatom
says...
10:28am Thu 7 Mar 13
hobroW
says...
11:30am Thu 7 Mar 13
He referred also to additional non-audit work that was being undertaken, which involved an independent review of the Council’s BIG and ISUS schemes, following issues raised by members of the public. He had concluded that the review did not pose a threat to the audit or to the independence of Grant Thornton. In response to a question from a Member, he commented that matters related to BIG and ISUS had been drawn to his attention some two years ago, whilst he was District Auditor, and were matters that would normally have been more appropriate for Internal Audit. Councillor Foulkes confirmed that he had also raised concerns with regard to the BIG and ISUS schemes, during his tenure as Leader of the Council.
A long time ago and should fit into the thesis of waste of money
hobroW
says...
11:34am Thu 7 Mar 13
Additional non-audit work
4 At the briefing of the Audit and Risk Management Committee on 15 November 2012 I
informed members that Grant Thornton Forensics Department had bid for and won a
tender to carry out an independent review of Wirral Council’s BIG and ISUS schemes
following issues raised by members of the public. I am required by International Auditing
Standards to make you aware of this additional work and to consider if there are any
independence or ethical issues arising from the work. In addition I am required to comply
with rules put in place by the Audit Commission regarding the acceptance of such work.
5 I can confirm that this work has been considered by me and the Director of Audit Quality
and Compliance at Grant Thornton and we have concluded that it does not pose any threat
to our auditor independence as your external auditor. The review is being undertaken by
Grant Thornton’s Forensic Team which has separate management and review procedures to
the Audit Team. The Audit Team retains the independence required under the Audit
Commission Act 1998 should a formal objection be placed. For your information:
- The fee for the work was agreed at £39,000
- The Grant Thornton lead for the Forensics Team is Rob Hampson
- The Council lead is Peter Timmins
The above because Internal audit of WNBC faiuled to do its job
smiler69
says...
1:30pm Thu 7 Mar 13
community counts wrote:Looks like the usual "All in it together" if you can get rid of 22 Councillors to save 10 or 20 front line jobs providing services for Wirral residents then why not!!!!
There was a call at Council last night to reduce Cllrs and cut expenses but the Leader of the Council "he say no" and Jeffery kept his head down and said nought!
Thepleb
says...
1:33pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Hardly going to be throwing petrol bombs are they...and who paid the bill?
Hugo1008
says...
2:13pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Clearing the debt incurred by the past two decades of useless Council Mismanagement and the look after yourself parasite Elected Councilors we have endured for the past two decades, is the prime objective for GB the CEO.
That is the part that is going to hurt the vulnerable and elderly the most plus white washing the absolute disgrace and scandal of the past ten years that our elected representatives failed to do anything about, and even colluded in, that is the real injustice.
On a purely local basis most of our 66 Councillors have caused more damage to our communities, than the bankers have done to the nation.
hobroW
says...
9:20am Fri 8 Mar 13
If you want an example of waste of resources then watch out tfor the breaking story
A whistleblowe, Nigel Hobro
statictom
says...
11:23am Fri 8 Mar 13
No one has asked these vulnerable people what they want. They should have a choice in their lives, not be dictated too. To close a centre and move the users to another place will have a devastating effect on these people. They are used to their routines and hate change. Their years of friendship will be broken and they will be scattered to all areas of the Wirral. The parents and carers of these people will also suffer. They carry the burden of care and in doing so save this council and government billions of pounds every year.
Which ever centre closes, things will never be the same.
I WOULD ASK ALL CARERS TO WRITE TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND TELL HIM THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING PLACING THEIR LOVED ONE INTO THE CARE OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY. This would cost Wirral some £50,000 per year for their care. Do the maths - if 10 parent/carers were to do this you are looking at £500,000 per year. Push parent carers any more and you will see this happen. Some of these carers have looked after their loved ones for the past 30 - 40 yrs, some even longer.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Stop attacking the most vulnerable.
Social services say numbers are dropping in Day Centres, this is because they are manipulating people leaving schools away from these centres, with the promise of personal budgets. The budgets have now dried up with only some 41% of people having one - the rest of the disable will have to wait years before they are offered one as there is no more money.
THIS SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS A DISGRACE.
David Scott
says...
1:24pm Fri 8 Mar 13
bloodtub
says...
4:08pm Fri 8 Mar 13
bickyboy
says...
10:06am Sun 10 Mar 13
To those who in recent years have dragged Wirral Council into Stygian financial depths I would say this: some words of contrition, an apology even, might not exactly restore a reputation you never had, but it would at least point to the possibility that our leaders retain a shred of human decency. I certainly don't expect such a concession from the Bullingdon Boys, so if nothing else a welcome show of humility from our council leaders, past and present, would shame their apparent addiction to nihilistic austerity.
JADEE1
says...
9:21pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Positive thinker
says...
9:42am Mon 11 Mar 13
Positive thinker
says...
9:42am Mon 11 Mar 13
Positive thinker
says...
9:42am Mon 11 Mar 13
Positive thinker
says...
9:42am Mon 11 Mar 13
Jack Boot
says...
1:00pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Nigrette
says...
5:39pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Positive thinker
says...
5:39pm Mon 11 Mar 13
andygt6
says...
8:22pm Mon 11 Mar 13
nal and not for the working being.Used to support this lot as a working person,but all they have done recently is make life harder for working people.The councils treatment of vunerable people is barbaric.I know one single parent whose son,who is disabled,faces his center being closed,also the money the council takes off him has risen from 75% to 100%,the daughter of the same mum has been forced to move into the house she s renovating without heating ,a toilet and major builing work,because of the increase of the empty property council tax going up 150%.To top it all an increase of council tax on her own home.This is what the council are doing to people!!!!!!!!!!Time we all stuck together and made our feellings known.If you disagree with what the council are doing,cancel your direct debit to them and make it harder for them to get the comodity they are forcing out of us!!!Complain as much as you can to the council.Upto 5 at moment.We didnt let the Germans in 1940's by sitting on backsides.Thanks for reading.
JADEE1
says...
9:37pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Positive thinker
says...
10:26pm Mon 11 Mar 13
You got one hell of a chip on your shoulder
andygt6
says...
12:12am Tue 12 Mar 13
PaulCa
says...
12:28pm Tue 12 Mar 13
bickyboy wrote:Don't forget BB, some of these 'pantomime villains' have operated as lackeys, working directly with managers to better dispense with 'problem people' - like whistleblowers or complainants who'd stuck their head above the parapet and tried to better the working environment from the inside, but come unstuck - like I did in 2003.
I feel desperately sorry for those being made redundant by the council. They have done their very best whilst working for what is a broken administration; an administration which, although it it by no means the only villain in this wretched pantomime, apparently refuses to take any responsibility for its own part in the decline and fall of WBC.
To those who in recent years have dragged Wirral Council into Stygian financial depths I would say this: some words of contrition, an apology even, might not exactly restore a reputation you never had, but it would at least point to the possibility that our leaders retain a shred of human decency. I certainly don't expect such a concession from the Bullingdon Boys, so if nothing else a welcome show of humility from our council leaders, past and present, would shame their apparent addiction to nihilistic austerity.
I've seen them turning up like bad pennies in the recent Globe photos of protests at the Town Hall, looking older, but obviously no wiser.
They're being betrayed by their old controllers and the heat's now been turned onto them. So they turn up to the Town Hall, bleating and pleading for their jobs, presumably so they can safely go on bullying their colleagues again in the future, whilst hanging on to the means to pay their mortgage and take a couple of holidays per year with e.g. their Thai girlfriend (Yes.... I still recall some of the more sordid details).
No, you won't get me feeling desperately sorry for these people. I do know others with principles, who have rightly complained, lodged grievances, but been ultimately done down by the corrupt system and it's mendacious defenders - and MY sympathy goes directly to these.
unbeleivable
says...
2:53pm Tue 12 Mar 13
The vulnerable and the elderly are being told they have to pay for the bankers mistakes and this councils mistakes yet again, these people will have hardly any money left for themselves when the council do this.
LocaLGovwatcher
says...
11:26am Wed 27 Mar 13
smiler69 wrote:The Coalition cuts to local councils were made to reduce the level of backoffice waste, not to reduce the level of essential service, which this Labour controlled council has chosen to do in the interests of political posturing.
Normal Idiots commenting on something they don't know about, the reason for all the cuts is THIS GOVERNMENT hitting councils, THEY are the ones sourcing the cuts, Councils are always a easy hit. Anyone remember Jeff Green (Conservative) giving millions away a year ago. The worst hit councils seem to have to be majority run Labour councils, the least hit seem to be a majority run by Conservatives no surprise. NOTE: FibDems shut up you have caused most of the trouble for a taste of power, they cannot be taken seriously!!!!
The £1.3 government grant to freeze council tax for 2013/14 has also been refused by WBC to further Labour voting aspirations.
Where is the referendum that this council were obliged to give Wirral residents before raising Council Tax by 2% or more or refusing the government grant?
Back office waste includes the allowances of 66 existing councillors, in anyone's reasonalble estimation.
Now that Wirral residents are being hit in their back pockets, maybe they'll wake and vote this disgusting hoard of freeloading councillors out of office by public protest.
Hugo1008
says...
9:26am Mon 1 Apr 13
We have heard and seen incidents of stupid wastes of money, absurd and cruel damaging act by Council mangers against individuals who tried in some small way to change the proven bullying, lies, deceit, mismanagenemt and totally inefficient running of the Service.
Yet we have never heard any kind of explanation, apolgy, or logical reason for why these things have happened, from any one of the 60 something elected Councillors.
Almost to a person 60 something parasites whatever political party they support not a proper explanation for why they have colluded, connived, supported, and encouraged, such inhuman behaviour. to some unfortunate individuals who had no chance to defend of look after themselves, not a peep from the so called Elected Councillors. Why?
Oh and one thing to remember it is they who support the political party, but it is you who pays out and supports these useless Councilors in a very lavish life style, and you may not even be a member of a political party, how stupid is that.
JADEE1
says...
9:45pm Mon 1 Apr 13
,HOW SICK IS THAT ,..?? TORY/LIBS& LABOUR DONT KNOW THE MEANING OF FAIRNESS,SCUM THE LOT...
Lorca says...
10:32am Wed 6 Mar 13