Council leader slammed for '3-star' boast (From Wirral Globe)

Council leader slammed for '3-star' boast

5:22pm Friday 6th February 2009

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WIRRAL council leader Steve Foulkes was tonight criticised for praising his own achievement in getting a slap on the back from the Government for good financial management while he presses on with plans to close half the borough's libraries in order to cut costs.

Cllr Foulkes, who is also Labour leader, contacted the media today to announce that under his leadership, the authority had been awarded a "3- star" rating for the management of its finances and delivering value for money.

But his decision to publicise the award was attacked by opposition Conservative councillor Leah Fraser, who criticised him for having "stars in his eyes" and being more concerned with Government "gongs" than the opinion of local people.

The attack follows months of controversy surrounding the council's "strategic asset review" - a cuts programme supported by Cllr Foulkes' Labour group and the Liberal Democrats - that will see 11 libraries, two museums and a theatre close.

Two leisure centres - Leasowe and Grange Road West - have an uncertain future, a third at Guinea Gap has been saved for just two years and 24 community centres and village halls are also to lose council funding under the proposals.

The 3-star rating for ‘Use of Resources’ was contained in an Audit Commission report discussed at this week’s meeting of Wirral’s Cabinet.

The Commissioners said: "The council’s performance demonstrates significant improvement in the use of resources during the period of assessment from April 2007 to March 2008."

In a joint statement today, Cllr Foulkes and Liberal Democract leader Simon Holbrook said the council had been awarded a 3-star rating by an independent watchdog for the management of its finances and resources and delivering value for money.

"In a time of economic recession, when everyone is feeling the pinch, it is vitally important that the council delivers value for money," saied Cllr Foulkes.

"Demands for essential council services increase as ordinary families are put under strain by financial pressures and efficient use of Council resources means we can meet those demands without placing too high a burden on the council tax payer."

In the same statement Cllr Holbrook, "cabinet" member for corporate resources and deputy leader of the council, said: "This is the first time in the history of Wirral Council that this level of performance has been achieved.

"It confirms that this administration is well on the way to turning this council around and putting it on a sound financial footing.

"The 3-star rating is an endorsement of the all the hard work undertaken by the administration last year, and the very tough decisions that we have had to make.

"We recognise that we have a way to go yet, but the efforts we have made so far to deliver a sustainable budget are now paying off, and we’re looking forward to further improvement when the Audit Commission reports again next year."

But furious Wallasey Conservative Cllr Leah Fraser condemned their remarks, telling the Globe: "Cllr Foulkes clearly has stars in his eyes if he thinks a gong from a Government quango is more important than listening to the people of Wirral.

"His council has squandered resources, not least the £100,000 spent on the consultants who came up with the strategic asset review.

"The council administration seems to be operating in a parallel universe to the rest of us.

"This extra star will be of little comfort to all those who are about to lose their libraries or leisure centres.”

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