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£525,000 for Wirral Council's hot meals and sandwiches sparks Tory anger

2:00pm Thursday 7th January 2010 in News Exclusive By Justin Dunn

Conservative group leader Cllr Jeff Green Conservative group leader Cllr Jeff Green

WIRRAL Council is to pay outside caterers more than half a million pounds to provide it with sandwiches and hot foods over a three-year period.

The authority has put out the contract – which comes in two “lots” – to tender asking for expressions of interest from “suitably experienced organisations”.

Under the 36-month deal, a company would expect to be paid approximately £150,000 a year to provide “sandwiches and sundries” to various council offices and buildings within the authority’s remit.

Lot one is described “an authority-wide buffet-type sandwich and sundries provision (not pre-packed for sandwiches for resale) to cover such events as business lunches, meetings and training courses”.

The second “lot” in the contract, which could theoretically be awarded to the same successful tender, is worth approximately £25,000 a year to provide hot food, mainly at Wallasey Town Hall, for civic receptions, council, planning and youth parliament meetings.

The total estimated “quantity or scope” for both contracts is £525,000 excluding VAT over three years – a figure seized upon by the opposition Conservative group as evidence of profligacy.

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Tory group leader Jeff Green said: “I am absolutely appalled that the council can spend £525,000 of taxpayers’ money on sandwiches and hot dinners for themselves.

“It is beyond belief that they could be squandering public funds this way when we so recently were being told we had to close down our libraries and make swingeing cuts in the social services budget to help balance the books.

“I am sure the council taxpayers of Wirral will be as astounded as I am by this.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Wirral Council currently has a catering contract out to tender.

“This is the first time that the council has advertised a contract of this nature, which will mean that all requirements will be channelled through a smaller number of suppliers, resulting in better control over catering arrangements and a reduction in costs.”

Comments(42)

Wirral Fruit Loop says...
11:24am Thu 7 Jan 10

I must comment on Mr Greens disgust on the Council spending this money, but doesn't he, himself , benefit from this, is he going to pay his own way with this own SALARY for each time he receives a meal prior to council meetings or at civic events such as sit-down dinners?

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slumdog says...
11:34am Thu 7 Jan 10

Quite right fruit Loop. The hypocrisy of the Tories is astounding. They posture and bluster constantly, when any one with a brain realises they are twice as bad when ever given the opportunity. They believe we are all stupid!

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Spiffy says...
11:53am Thu 7 Jan 10

Meetings can and should be held after mealtimes.
..
Hehe..security words: sure-duty

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Merseymouth says...
2:52pm Thu 7 Jan 10

They get expenses, why the need to feed them as well?

Have to agree with some though. The Tories are just the same. Opposition is easy isn't it?

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piggymalone says...
3:47pm Thu 7 Jan 10

These idiots certainly know how to anger the electorate. When will they ever learn.......never, I expect.
Are any of us really surprised....?

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hugo2008 says...
4:15pm Thu 7 Jan 10

Yet another reason to reduce the overall number of councillors, all we need is 6 districts 3 councillors for each, 1 mayor and 1 deputy 20 in total. All elected by the population and answeable to the public on a regular basis. Take out the Party Politics from local government, the Mayor with full executive powers over all the council spending and activities, would save the rate payers Millions in the first year.

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slumdog says...
7:43pm Thu 7 Jan 10

Sons of Mary Whitehouse, who bang on about independent councillors but always suck up to the Tories, I saw one of your beloved 'independent' Mayors in the news. You know how I've been saying independents are more likely to be loose cannons, and how one of your number proves the point?
..
Ian Stafford, independent second time Mayor of Preesall has admitted breaking into womens homes and stealing their underwear. Weird freudian stuff eh?
Yes, Preesall is near Fleetwood too. Couldn't make it up!

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Jayo says...
8:47pm Thu 7 Jan 10

I'm sure I read a post earlier by Spiffy that seems to have vanished.
I agreed with what was posted and also agree its time for the Tories to stop being appalled by the action of the council and start to reveal all the reasons why they should be unseated.
So Mr green its time to stop mouthing platitudes and put up or shut up.

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warescouse says...
11:54pm Thu 7 Jan 10

So how do you go about joining this bunch of 'troughers'? Seem a good life is to be had there!

Surely these people must understand that they are paid with money earned from hard working taxpayers. Remember the old adage quoted by many. If it seems to good to be true it probably is. I hope when the elections arrive we all vote for good people we can trust and not political party endemic 'ers.

It seems an endemic disease present in political parties. Why do we need 'party' representatives, why do we not elect more independents?

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Spiffy says...
12:48am Fri 8 Jan 10

Jayo I think you might mean the one I posted on the article "Councillors Clash Over Wirral Spending Plans" ? If so, its still there as far as I can see for myself right this minute.
...
Entire columns of comments have been disappearing to me now and again though and come back if I make a fresh comment. I think the new-look website is still a bit glitchy.

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Spiffy says...
12:55am Fri 8 Jan 10

"Under the 36-month deal, a company would expect to be paid approximately £150,000 a year to provide “sandwiches and sundries” to various council offices and buildings within the authority’s remit. "
...
Did a bit of rough calculation and assuming a 5 day week for the full 52 weeks of the year then this amounts to £576.93 PER DAY. On butties.
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Like... :O
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I wonder what social services are allocated per day to provide meals on wheels for pensioners or schools are allocated per day to feed children.
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I also wonder just how many people - and who exactly - are benefitting from this £576.93 PER day because you can bet yer butt it is not the employees at the sharp end of the council.

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tiumphdave says...
1:52am Fri 8 Jan 10

This council can't afford to employ lollipop ladies but can afford an office-full of box-ticking £20k per year Child Pedestrian Safety Co-ordinators!

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hugo2008 says...
12:35pm Fri 8 Jan 10

"Slumdog" there you go again, I have never sucked up to anybody. Representatives selected by the population, regardless of political interest, answerable to the electorate, regardless of Party Political Influence. An independent Mayor chosen by the people with full control over the total council spending and activities, including all the highly paid executives is the proper way to run a local government. Local Government for the people, by the people, and much reduced in size, would save the Wirral Ratepayers Millions each and every year. No Politics involved.

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slumdog says...
3:49pm Fri 8 Jan 10

I think you will find that what you are proposing is indeed politics hugo. This independent mayor would also have to be pretty far to the right wouldn't he hugo? Or dont you care as long as he's not in any party?

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hugo2008 says...
8:57pm Fri 8 Jan 10

"Slumdog" what do you mean pretty far to the right. Right or Left or Centre, Non political in local government means the person involved is more interested in the well being of the Wirral Population regardless of politics.
What part of Independent do you not understand,
My Mayor would be elected by the people and answerable to the people
in office for a limited period, failure to come up trumps for the electorate, would mean he or she was out of a job, plus any other highly paid council employee who likewise failed to do what they are paid to do. And that is to run the council in all its many departments in the best interest of the electorate, and not Party political whips.
If you want politics in Local Government then join a political party and pay for it, do not expect the rest of the population to pay for it.
We already pay handsomely for a national Government to deal with Party Politics

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Jayo says...
9:03pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Spiffy wrote:
Jayo I think you might mean the one I posted on the article "Councillors Clash Over Wirral Spending Plans" ? If so, its still there as far as I can see for myself right this minute. ... Entire columns of comments have been disappearing to me now and again though and come back if I make a fresh comment. I think the new-look website is still a bit glitchy.
Thanks Spiffy.
So much new news it got lost in the brain. Doh !!!!

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piggymalone says...
11:31pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Hugo...me-thinks you waste your time giving your thoughts and explanations to certain correspondents. They seem to be more interested if you are right, left, centre, homophobic or even related to the Sons of mary Whitehouse or Idi Amin

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slumdog says...
7:12am Sat 9 Jan 10

You are quite right piggy. I am interested in the beliefs of a person who might be representing me. You say you are not. That would make you very strange considering the amount of time you spend trying to infuence things. Your friend from Moreton for instance, whom I believe you supported as an independent candidate is a cassic example of how the wrong kind of person can end up in a position of power.
..
No I dont want a mad facist or a homophobe running the council. I'm sure a lot of other people don't either .
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Hugo and everyone else, there is no such thing as a none political person. we all have attitudes and beliefs and opinions. That makes us all political.

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slumdog says...
7:40am Sat 9 Jan 10

Oh piggy, by the way, seeing as how you raised the subject of the Sons of Mary Whitehouse, I saw one of your beloved 'independent' Mayors in the news. You know how I've been saying independents are more likely to be loose cannons, and how one of your number proves the point?
..
Ian Stafford, independent Mayor of Preesall has admitted breaking into womens homes and stealing their underwear. Weird freudian stuff eh?
Yes, Preesall is near Fleetwood too. Couldn't make it up!

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hugo2008 says...
12:52pm Sat 9 Jan 10

"piggymalone" You are correct, I am afraid "Slumdog" seems to be a little warped, or refuses to understand the meaning of words like Independent, and Democracy, never mind I did try.
Cheers

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piggymalone says...
2:51pm Sat 9 Jan 10

He just cant seem to grasp the idea that party candidates generally do what the party whip tells them to do rater than take the lead from the electorate that elected them. Its as simple as that but our friend seem to think that independents are all nutters. Well, one or two may well be but that also applies to any other candidate or existing councillor..you only have to look at the current regime. Isnt it up to the individual voter to decide. Personally I would rather have candidates that are interested in their local community but we have said that on numerous occasions only to be derided by Slumdog but Hey ho, he is entitled to his opinion.

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MX says...
5:38pm Sat 9 Jan 10

Slumdog,Piggymalone,
Hugo.
Stop it!.
Huge fan of all of you.Remember the dictum Divide & Rule.
I'd put my trust in any of you (naive fool that I am) than any of our Elected Members (with emphasis on the latter)

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piggymalone says...
6:40pm Sun 10 Jan 10

Ian Stafford was chosen by his own council colleagues, not by the electorate

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hugo2008 says...
10:01pm Sun 10 Jan 10

Hey guys: If Wirral Council are planning to spend half a million pounds on sandwiches, drinks, and meals, etc.
I would urge as many people who can manage get along to the so called official meetings, take the kids, friends, neighbours, sit quietly until the lunch interval then eat as much as you can, take a doggie bag, after all its your money, and you are perfectly entitled to attend most of the council meetings, or departmental meetings and any other shindig that is taking place, we are supposed to have open government in this country. Plus most people who attend these things claim travel and refreshment expenses, as a matter of course.
Lets all of us get in on the act.

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slumdog says...
5:01am Mon 11 Jan 10

You are right about Ian Stafford piggy.
..
Ian Stafford the independent Mayor, burgler, womens underwear thief etc was voted in by people with some degree of political experience. An openly elcted Mayor for Wirral would be decided by a handfull of disgruntled fuddy duddies and a few extremists who are motivated to vote.

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djrimmer says...
11:06am Mon 11 Jan 10

Sorry Slumdog, cant agree. If the council had done a propper job of notifying the electorate of the change in local government options more people would have shown an interest. IMHO it is not in the councils interest for these required changes to take place, so they deliberately did as little as possible so as to influence they outcome they wanted and believe me they got what they wanted by totally ignoring the results of publics feedback, little as it was

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hugo2008 says...
5:23pm Mon 11 Jan 10

Slumdog, Its a great shame to describe any person who is prepared to exercise their right to vote as an extremist.
Those who do vote, do so in the name of Democracy and should be praised, even if you do not agree with their vote. Look up Democracy in any good dictionary, before you pass comment.

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slumdog says...
9:00pm Mon 11 Jan 10

Voting in itself does not make you an extremist hugo. The majority of people don't bother to vote.Those that do are usually driven by particular issues, or party loyalty. I believe it should be a legal requirement that people vote, even if just to say no to all the candidates.

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Jayo says...
1:14pm Tue 12 Jan 10

Gadaffi slumdog Mugabe has dictated you have to vote. Stand up everyone the Chinese national anthem is playing.

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piggymalone says...
1:15pm Tue 12 Jan 10

Slumdog, on one hand you state that anyone electing a mayor on Wirral must be disgruntled fuddy duddies or extremists on the other hand you state to Hugo that voting in itself does not make you an extremist, sorry but I do not understand your theory on this matter. Are voters extremists or not or is it just voters who want to elect a mayor extremists?

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hugo2008 says...
8:22pm Tue 12 Jan 10

At last, Something I can agree with Slumdog: I too would like to see voting as being compusory as in completing a census form.
Included in the census form I would like to see a questionaire, listing issues that the population thought to be important. as an example.
1: Afganistan and Iraq issues
2: Gas, Electricity, Oil, Water Prices
3: Pensions, Benefits, Systems
4: Crime and Punishment issues
5: Total size of Parliament and MPs
6: Total size of Local Governments
7: Imigration Control issues
8: Simplified Taxations Systems
9: Resposibilities of Quango & Cost
10: Housing and Environment issues.

I have not listed these in any order of importance that should be up to the individuals, plus any other items people feel strogly about.
This would provide a huge level of information on how people from all backgrounds and political beliefs would prefare our leaders to follow, whoever is in power at the time.

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Spiffy says...
8:51pm Tue 12 Jan 10

A compulsory communist-type system of voting - with census identifying the voter and their family complete with a list of issues strongly commented upon - would almost certainly end up with the voter themselves being placed on a list.

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Jayo says...
9:15pm Tue 12 Jan 10

Where can the council lay its hands on 350,000 rolls of wallpaper for Hugo's new census form ? Who the hell is going to fill that out ? When you vote it is supposed to be private and to your own conscience. Now you have to enter all your personal details. most of the issues you raise are dictated by the EU. If the likes of Hugo and slumdog had there way they would be asking to see our voting card (papers) and railroading us into lines and frog marching us to the polling booths. (gas chambers).
*****
When we get forced to vote are we still allowed to vote for who we want or for who you dictate ?

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piggymalone says...
10:36pm Tue 12 Jan 10

I would go along with compulsory voting provided there was the option of choosing non of the standing candidates.

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Spiffy says...
11:22pm Tue 12 Jan 10

Piggy do bear in mind that when anything become compulsory it invariably attracts penalties for non-compliance. Be very very careful what you wish for.

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Spiffy says...
11:23pm Tue 12 Jan 10

However...........un
der the present system it should be quite simple to add that extra tick box. Lots of questionnaires have a "none of the above".

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hugo2008 says...
9:09am Wed 13 Jan 10

Dont get carried away guys, the Questionaire is a seperate piece of paper to the one containing all your details.
Just a simple sheet of A4 with tick boxes, easily completed, placed into a seperate box than that of your census form, providing nation wide people opinions for the polititions to take note of.
Spiffy, Piggy, & Jayo, nothing sinister we are going to pay for the census opperation anyway, why not make the best use of the information gathering system, you always have the opportunity to NOT take part.
But that leaves you with the "powers that be" believing their own information gathering services, and justifing their decisions.
All the information gathered would be assesed and published by an independent body, not the government of the day.
Good old people power, cant beat it.

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hugo2008 says...
9:12am Wed 13 Jan 10

By the way, I am enjoying the exchange, just wish more people got involved, and expressed some ideas to make systems better and more accountable, for all of us.

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Spiffy says...
1:02pm Wed 13 Jan 10

Hugo I do believe you have the best intentions in making such suggestions. I do believe the suggestion of such a census is reasonable, common sense and would be a fair addition to any truly democratic process. I too enjoy exchange of ideas.
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"Addition" being the operative word here and a problem in itself. I do not believe it is entirely practical or would serve any greater good purpose to further add to the disgusting bloat of beaurocracy and administration in this country with yet more data collection.
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No government or independant body could be trusted to effectively manage that level of information as has proven time and again. As to the uses of such data there can be no question that abuse would occur. It is all too evident in systems we already have in place.
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I also feel the logistics of arranging for, collecting and managing the sheer level of data by yet another independant body would increase the already back-breaking burden of cost on taxpayers. We have - at the very least - a three tier system of administration running this country at present.
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These being: The omnipresent EU, the present quasi-government and a veritable spiders web of unelected unaccountable of Quangoes, Trusts, Executives and so-called "Think-Tanks.
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Too many cooks hovering over a boiling pan meddling with an ever-increasingly spoiled broth - that's how I see the UK at present - with the pan about to explode.
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To be fair, there are already inumerable ways or official systems in place for the population to express their collective opinion. It is up to the individual to use them and make something vaguely resembling a democracy work.
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Perhaps a census on the scale you suggest could Replace a few of them.

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Dantealighieri says...
2:35pm Wed 13 Jan 10

All very interesting. Hugo 2008, you seem very keen on democracy, 'Good old people power, can't beat it'. It's a small point, but if that is your opinion, how does that fit in with your continuing support for the proposed hotel in West Kirby? Of course everyone can fight for, and continue to fight for, anything that they believe in. However considering that at packed public meetings, the overwhelming majority of people were against the proposal, a view reflected by the councillors from this area, what would your opinion be should this council eventually give the go ahead? Would you rejoice that your wish had been granted, or would you regret that the wishes of the residents of West Kirby, as expressed through their councilors, had been tossed to one side? As I say, it's only a small point, but I do feel the need to know that when people start to express a desire to improve democracy, that they are already committed too, or at least the theory of, what already exists.

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hugo2008 says...
3:06pm Wed 13 Jan 10

Dante of WK, My support for the hotel in WK is based on the assumption that investment into an area brings jobs and improves the financial stability for many more.
A good thing for a place thats dying on its feet. The loss of view for a very small minority is in my view a small price to pay.
If however the vast majority are indeed opposed to the idea, then let democracy take its course. In my experience, outside of election time looming your councilor may have a different attitude, if you take into account how often your council representatives have rolled over for the official party line. That is another reason Party Political Influences has no place in local government.
Check who voted to allow the so called pop concert to take place at Thurstaston, just a hop skip and a jump from your location.
Incidentally your packed meeting represented a tiny number of WK residents and most of them in the autumn of their lives, not thinking of the future or what the young people wanted.
Don't worry I too am in the late autumn of my life, and have seen many changes in WK not all good but most of it has been, that is progress for you. So I am told.

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Rob Blahzil says...
9:50pm Wed 13 Jan 10

Just a point about a census. If I ever have to fill another one in, I will lie through my teeth. When you look back at previous ones, all we have done is pre-warn the Gov. where they need to make cuts. I remember putting in one that I believed my kids (and those of others) would be going to University. Education being all important. You guessed it. They introduced tuition fees. I also remember (seeing as I was getting on a bit) mentioning that care for the elderly was important to me. Where have all the state care homes gone? I`m sure you cleverer people can check back and see what else they did. You get the feeling that all our taxes do is keep them in a job, trying to figure out how they can divide it up between themselves, regardless of party politics. My views are too extreme anyway. I`d end the war in Afghanistan quicker by using bigger bombs and I`d have shot that murderer Saddam when we first had the chance, instead of letting him slaughter more of his own people. (That`ll get you talking!)
As for the butty scandal, it just shows that they are all greedy fat b4st4rds........

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