Wirral Council Leader Dave Jackson (Labour) writes exclusively for the Wirral Globe.

DO you suffer from post holiday blues?

You save up all year, have a fabulous time away. Then you come home to find it's raining, the post is nothing but bills and you've still got problems.

Well, good news is a sure cure for the blues. I've just been on holiday and came back into council to check out the latest information. First off was good news that two schools, Pensby High for Girls and Black Horse Junior, had been awarded Beacon School Status.

'Beacon status' is a new government ideas which you'll probably hear about in future when it is applied to different councils and individual council services. It's really about sharing what you know. If anyone is doing anything particularly well, then getting Beacon status means not only that they are recognised for doing it well, but that they agree to be available to talk to other people facing the same issues and pass on their experience. We're really pleased that two Wirral schools have been among the first to be given Beacon status, so congratulations all round to everyone concerned and good luck in passing on your secrets!

The second piece of good news was the announcement by Health Secretary Frank Dobson that Merseyside has been designated a Health Action Zone. I've talked a fair bit in this column about the way poor health can be linked to other elements, like not having enough money, not having a job, living in poor housing, not eating the right food, feeling unsafe, suffering stress, pollution, lack of exercise . . . As a local authority we have a major part to play in raising the quality of life which affects your health. Government has recognised this and declaring Merseyside a Health Action Zone means there will be real money to be spent on new initiatives, which will not just be directed at hospitals and clinics but will also be aimed at all sorts of ways of improving the quality of life that affects your health.

I was sad to miss a Mersey trip organised by Wirral International Business Park Marketing Group, looking at efforts to bring jobs to Wirral. Guests from many different businesses travelled by ferry from New Brighton to Eastham and took a riverside view of different initiatives, potential new business and employment opportunities. I know they were given food to eat, but I hope there was plenty of food for thought!

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.