EXCLUSIVE: Globe readers' fury over four-week delay in council care triggers action (From Wirral Globe)
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EXCLUSIVE: Globe readers' fury over four-week delay in council care triggers action
5:40pm Monday 12th March 2012 in News Exclusive By Leigh Marles, Editor
Cllr Jeff Green, leader of Wirral Council
A SPECIALIST council team has been set up to deal with a massive reaction following a Globe online exclusive concerning officially-sanctioned delay in providing care to vulnerable people.
The claims that an offical delay policy had been operating since 2008 had been denied on numerous occasions by the local authority.
Eventually a social services whistle-blower used Freedom of Information legislation to obtain council minutes and other documents which revealed the truth.
Scores upon scores of angry and shocked readers contacted us or left online comments when we broke the story last week.
Some had heart-rending stories of how they and their families had been personally affected by the policy of holding up care for four weeks as a way for saving cash.
Councillor Jeff Green, leader of Wirral Council, said today: "I cannot begin to explain how angry I am at the length of time it has taken for this situation to come to light.
“After a series of denials from the Department of Adult Social Services, I am giving my personal guarantee that everyone who believes that they have been let down by the council will be given the opportunity to have their cases properly considered and dealt with.
"Anyone affected by this situation can email me directly at leader@wirral.gov.uk
"In addition there will also be a specialist team established to examine each and every case where concerns are raised by residents along with a dedicated telephone line staffed by trained social workers.
"I will be receiving regular updates on how many people contact the council and how each enquiry is progressing.
“I would therefore urge anyone who feels that they have been adversely affected by this disgraceful situation to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be treated properly."
Details of this telephone number will be released later this week.
Councillor Green added: "Never again should vulnerable people have to wait for care they are entitled to.
“Everyone who should be held to account will be. I will be working closely with the new Director of Adult Social Services to deliver on the promises I have made today."
A statement from Graham Hodkinson, Director of Wirral Adult Social Services, said: "We take any allegation that we have compromised the care of vulnerable people very seriously and I have ordered an immediate investigation.
"The document brought to our attention dates from 2008 so it is important that I speak to everyone concerned to determine the facts.
"I would like to reassure everyone who uses our services - and their families - that although I am relatively new in post, I have a full understanding of the issues that are concerning people and am making it my business to turn the department round.
"There is excellent work being carried out in Wirral Adult Social Services which is a credit to the hardworking staff.
"That work is being overshadowed by issues that need laying to rest once and for all.
"I will be working with my colleagues throughout the council to ensure that good practice becomes the norm."
Comments(44)
PaulCa
says...
5:28pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Following this he went on to issue several barefaced denials that care was being delayed deliberately by 4 weeks. A delay which was in place for years and could have meant life or death to vulnerable people needing care. All for the twisted aim of "saving money" and boosting the careers of those up to their necks in it.
He's since retired, but the damage had been done by then.
Do you have any shame Mr. Cooper? I sincerely hope you're reading this and then looking long and hard into the mirror.
You should have taken action and brought accountability to the department, but instead, you presented nonsensical powerpoint charts to councillors, while the departments' staff were decimated beneath you.
It seems you were focused on a different goal......
....the prize of a fat, obscene pension, built from public money.
ArdalMcFardle
says...
5:44pm Mon 12 Mar 12
MX
says...
6:04pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Are they still there or have they slunk off into the night with a nice big cheque and a piece of black masking tape over their mouths?.
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
7:12pm Mon 12 Mar 12
1. Anybody with a problem can contact me direct at leader@wirral.gov. uk (hasn't that always been the case, Jeff?)
and
2. I've set up a specialist team to deal with this mess.
Sorry to be cynical, Jeff, but where do these two new promises fit into the whole scheme of things?
Are producing an unredacted Klonowski Report and giving Martin Morton his job back now relegated to number 3 and number 4 on the 'Jeff Green Promises' Hit Parade?
steady cyclist
says...
7:24pm Mon 12 Mar 12
FROM THE SAME DEPARTMENT THAT FAILED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SACK THE LOT OF THEM AND THEN RECRUIT NEW STAFF FROM THE RANKS OF THE UNEMPLOYED, SIMPLES ISNT IT.
Also dont forget one day you may be in need of care, have to sell your home, pay huge fees, and be treated like a non entity.
Jimrob
says...
7:49pm Mon 12 Mar 12
(Thank you Wirral Globe)
unbeleivable
says...
7:52pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Cheesy Peas
says...
8:04pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Then he should of course hand back his CBE.
The head of the spin machine that trotted out the usual, tiresome Wirral Council lie - it's always easier to deny, it seems - that there was no four week waiver should slink off and never return. Because let's face it: It is by no means the first time that department has been proven to tell bare-faced untruths. Charteris, anyone?
Libraries?
"A bit mad?"
But the man who really needs to be taking more than a just a glance at the clock is the chief executive - who before getting the top job, in his role as deputy chief exec, was in charge of corporate services (which includes making sure the staff don't lie to him) - should be running away as fast as his legs can carry him.
People have died because of this.
Died.
What kind of sick individual(s) would want to claim now that having made such grave errors, and then tried to cover them up, that they are the people best placed to right the wrongs?
Worse, we can't even look to our first citizen, the Mayor, for any kind of direction, as Cllr McLaughlin's involvement with DASS is also fraught with a history that has raised many questions; and, shamefully, not a single one of them answered.
PaulCa
says...
8:51pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Don't the public deserve to be reassured properly on this crucial point? Because I'm not so sure we can entrust this to a protective clique that's still putting obstacles in the way of the wider public interest.
I therefore don't find the leader's words very reassuring. That's not cynicism on my part but comes from not seeing any ACCOUNTABILITY to date.
We're still waiting for the fully redacted AKA report and for the Norman Smith report to be acted upon.
Yes - bullying and abuse of power appears to be in full flow still occurring, despite being uncovered SO long ago by the Martin Smith report, which was sneaked out below the radar and lovingly redacted (by an abuser?)
The abusers are still in situ and dictating events, secure in the knowledge they're going nowhere, staying one step ahead of an increasingly sidelined leader, despite his feeble attempts at tub-thumping and garnering votes.
Remember those screams for a redacted AKA report? Well the track record is woeful.
It hasn't come to pass has it? And without that we will never KNOW exactly who they are and therefore who needs to be shown the door.
PeteSheff
says...
9:03pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Where 'The abnormal has become normal' how would you know what is right and wrong?
http://www.whatdothe
yknow.com/request/wb
c_dass_specialist_te
am
unbeleivable
says...
7:20am Tue 13 Mar 12
WirralAl
says...
10:00am Tue 13 Mar 12
Graham Hodkinson’s comments are frankly a joke with comments about the “excellent work being carried out” and “issues that need laying to rest” As you are quite new to the job perhaps no body has told you what has been happening with this council and the absolute failure of your department, The Senior officers and the Councillors.
In WBC they appear to award those that have failed to perform the job that we pay them to carry out. A CBE for Howard Cooper, The Mayor! You either get the top job or get a nice big pay off. This is so wrong.
We appeal to you Cllr J Green. You commissioned the DASS report and it is now time to out the people who are guilty, name and shame them. Sack the people responsible. That is what we are asking for. Until you do this nobody will have any faith in the council.
The Wirral Globe is doing a fantastic job and is giving us the electorate a chance to voice our opinionson the many sad failures.
People have been neglected and have died as a result of actions taken by the council, Families have been left desperate and in need of support and they have been let down.
Stop trying to smooth over the cracks. Grow a pair and take some real action, We have all paid for the DASS report but if YOU don’t take action what was the point. This is the only way you will stop Cllr Foulk us getting his grimy and way back in charge.
Heads need to role and soon! Name and shame them.
If you cannot do it, The all of the councillors should be removed and a Government body should be appointed to resolve the problems once and for all.
council officer
says...
12:01pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Ben Beaconsfield wrote:I have contacted Cllr Green in the past regarding a serious matter that as the leader of the Council I felt he needed to be aware of. To my disappointment no action was taken.
Another two promises from Cllr Green:
1. Anybody with a problem can contact me direct at leader@wirral.gov. uk (hasn't that always been the case, Jeff?)
and
2. I've set up a specialist team to deal with this mess.
Sorry to be cynical, Jeff, but where do these two new promises fit into the whole scheme of things?
Are producing an unredacted Klonowski Report and giving Martin Morton his job back now relegated to number 3 and number 4 on the 'Jeff Green Promises' Hit Parade?
My experience tells me Cllr Green works in a re-active manner. He will make a soundbite on whatever given issue is currently in the public eye. This weeks topic is the 4 week delay. In the past it has been the Morton affair. Next week it will be something else.
If you look back you will see that certain promises have been made but then events are overtaken and they are not kept.
I dont doubt Cllr Greens sincerity but also believe that their are many other internal issues that also need to be addressed if Wirral Council is to develop and perfom to its best for the people of Wirral.
rogirby
says...
12:04pm Tue 13 Mar 12
It appears that there are a number of different issues in this and the report about Mrs Robinson (DELAY SCANDAL: Wirral man's despair as his mother died after waiting for care package
1) A care package reduction which happened after care was transferred from the in-house team to the private sector
2) A delay of 4 weeks in carrying out an assessment (or, in this case, a re-assessment) of care needs
3) Delays in implementing care packages
4) An increase in charges from £157 to £208 per week despite a reduction in service.
5) The degree of responsibility carried by Howard Cooper as Director of Adult Social Services.
To take each in turn…..
Care Package reductions.
Certainly when packages were transferred to the private sector, each was subject to a re-assessment to confirm the level of service which needed to be provided. Those re-assessments were carried out using the national guidelines on the degree of priority for each identified care need. Council members had agreed that Social Services should only directly provide for care needs which were in the two highest of four bands. Essentially this means needs which relate to immediate or substantial risks to the service user. Consequently, many services such as shopping, cleaning and laundry were withdrawn, especially if these services could be provided by some other means, for example nearby family members.
It is unreasonable to blame Social Services for implementing a policy which had been agreed by Council members. If Councillors now feel that providing such services is the right thing to do, then they need to allocate the funding
4 week delay in carrying out an assessment
Any request for an assessment needs to be prioritised – without a substantial increase in the number of social work staff, there will always be some delay. It is, almost, inevitable that people who are already receiving a care package will wait longer for a re-assessment than those who are at immediate risk. Everybody cannot be the first in the queue.
There is a government performance target which measures this waiting time. Councillors receive regular reports regarding how this target is (or is not met). If Councillors want the waiting time to be reduced, all they need do is allocate the required resources and define what average waiting time they want to see.
Delays in Implementing a Care Package.
This is an issue which has already been raised on the Wirralleaks website. Inevitably there will be some delay between agreeing a care package and then implementing the service. (This also is subject to a regular performance target reported to Councillors) However it is clear that there was a policy within Social Services of a deliberate delay in starting to make arrangements for care packages to be implemented, except where Social Services managers could be persuaded that the need was urgent. I do not know whether this policy is still in place but it certainly was in 2008/9. Naturally, this policy was unwritten but there would hardly be a need for a process to plead exceptions to the policy if the policy did not exist.
This is the issue which Councillor Green is really concerned about. It is sad that it has taken so long for an admission that this practice is wrong. Perhaps we should be hopeful that it is a sign that the new director is sorting out some issues at last.
Increased Charges
Charges for care services are based upon ability to pay and not the level of service provided. Charges are based upon a policy agreed by Councillors and the increase mentioned by Mr Robinson relate to a change in the charging policy which affected everyone receiving home care at home. If Mr Robinson felt that the charge was unfair, then it is surprising that he has not mentioned it until now. If Councillors feel the policy is unreasonable, then the answer is in their own hands.
Howard Cooper
There is some degree of anger about Howard Cooper on the Wirral Globe website. This seems to me to be somewhat unfair. Mr Cooper was appointed as a temporary Director of Adult Social Services until a permanent new appointment could be made.. If there is blame to be laid, then it should more reasonably fall upon his predecessors who created the Social Services Department that we know today. It takes time to change a large organisation – even when there is a willingness to change!!
Just one last thing, Mrs Robinson passed away in September 2009. I wonder why it took until now to become “furious”.
PeteSheff
says...
1:48pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Is it not rather insensitive to say:
'Just one last thing, Mrs Robinson passed away in September 2009. I wonder why it took until now to become “furious”.'
I think that when it is unearthed that a policy was plausibly put into place to save money irrespective of the needs of the vulnerable and it ends up being a factor in the death of a loved one.. then I personally would be furious. Just from reading the catalogue of failures and poor performance - i'm livid.
Your comments on there being a delay is entirely expected - however as per the legal advice - was it tested as reasonable to delay everyone apart from exceptions? And to create such a difficult exception process that in practice the delay would be much longer.
You are right that the accountability goes up to the elected members but they are not experts, and are taking the flawed advice from the senior officers who also seem to act with poor grasp of the law.
In essence it could be said that it was the blind leading the blind in relation to the law, although that would be an unfair insult on the visually impaired community. It is however more fair to say that it is another example of the 'Abnormal being normal'.
Maybe the issue really is the intent was contrary to what social services should be doing and possibly they need to create a charter to get in touch with the actual mission they are put in place to deliver. Avoiding responsibility to save money is a highlight to the dire management of the budget.
Howard Cooper was an interim, and a relatively competent man, who was working out his service as a favour. If he is misled by the phrasing of a policy he is only responsible for his naivety. He did after all stop the golden cone award...
ArdalMcFardle
says...
1:56pm Tue 13 Mar 12
As for Howard Cooper,"the safe pair of hands" would this be the same chap who Frank Field asked to resign from Education calling him "incompetent" He is rightly criticised by many, quite simply because the evidence suggests that he did not investigate "Delaygate" in a through and proper manner. Instead he took the word of his senior officers that all was well. How wrong could he be!!!
woodyres
says...
2:00pm Tue 13 Mar 12
rogirby wrote:Well Rog, I cannot believe you are actually defending the actions of DASS in this whole sorry affair. Maybe it's just as well you don't still work there, you sound a pretty heartless sort of bloke, especially with your final comment at a grieving family - quite shocking !!
The recent Wirral Globe reports show how different issues become mixed up and confused as time goes by. Since I no longer work within Social Services I can only go by the Globe reports however…. It appears that there are a number of different issues in this and the report about Mrs Robinson (DELAY SCANDAL: Wirral man's despair as his mother died after waiting for care package 1) A care package reduction which happened after care was transferred from the in-house team to the private sector 2) A delay of 4 weeks in carrying out an assessment (or, in this case, a re-assessment) of care needs 3) Delays in implementing care packages 4) An increase in charges from £157 to £208 per week despite a reduction in service. 5) The degree of responsibility carried by Howard Cooper as Director of Adult Social Services. To take each in turn….. Care Package reductions. Certainly when packages were transferred to the private sector, each was subject to a re-assessment to confirm the level of service which needed to be provided. Those re-assessments were carried out using the national guidelines on the degree of priority for each identified care need. Council members had agreed that Social Services should only directly provide for care needs which were in the two highest of four bands. Essentially this means needs which relate to immediate or substantial risks to the service user. Consequently, many services such as shopping, cleaning and laundry were withdrawn, especially if these services could be provided by some other means, for example nearby family members. It is unreasonable to blame Social Services for implementing a policy which had been agreed by Council members. If Councillors now feel that providing such services is the right thing to do, then they need to allocate the funding 4 week delay in carrying out an assessment Any request for an assessment needs to be prioritised – without a substantial increase in the number of social work staff, there will always be some delay. It is, almost, inevitable that people who are already receiving a care package will wait longer for a re-assessment than those who are at immediate risk. Everybody cannot be the first in the queue. There is a government performance target which measures this waiting time. Councillors receive regular reports regarding how this target is (or is not met). If Councillors want the waiting time to be reduced, all they need do is allocate the required resources and define what average waiting time they want to see. Delays in Implementing a Care Package. This is an issue which has already been raised on the Wirralleaks website. Inevitably there will be some delay between agreeing a care package and then implementing the service. (This also is subject to a regular performance target reported to Councillors) However it is clear that there was a policy within Social Services of a deliberate delay in starting to make arrangements for care packages to be implemented, except where Social Services managers could be persuaded that the need was urgent. I do not know whether this policy is still in place but it certainly was in 2008/9. Naturally, this policy was unwritten but there would hardly be a need for a process to plead exceptions to the policy if the policy did not exist. This is the issue which Councillor Green is really concerned about. It is sad that it has taken so long for an admission that this practice is wrong. Perhaps we should be hopeful that it is a sign that the new director is sorting out some issues at last. Increased Charges Charges for care services are based upon ability to pay and not the level of service provided. Charges are based upon a policy agreed by Councillors and the increase mentioned by Mr Robinson relate to a change in the charging policy which affected everyone receiving home care at home. If Mr Robinson felt that the charge was unfair, then it is surprising that he has not mentioned it until now. If Councillors feel the policy is unreasonable, then the answer is in their own hands. Howard Cooper There is some degree of anger about Howard Cooper on the Wirral Globe website. This seems to me to be somewhat unfair. Mr Cooper was appointed as a temporary Director of Adult Social Services until a permanent new appointment could be made.. If there is blame to be laid, then it should more reasonably fall upon his predecessors who created the Social Services Department that we know today. It takes time to change a large organisation – even when there is a willingness to change!! Just one last thing, Mrs Robinson passed away in September 2009. I wonder why it took until now to become “furious”.
In my job, I speak regularly to families who have suffered at the hands of DASS trying to get the correct care for their loved ones. I also know what WBC are trying to do at the moment in trying to cut costs still further for care of vulnerable adults.
unbeleivable
says...
2:10pm Tue 13 Mar 12
council officer wrote:Yep I have tried reporting things as well, it get's you nowhere.
Ben Beaconsfield wrote:I have contacted Cllr Green in the past regarding a serious matter that as the leader of the Council I felt he needed to be aware of. To my disappointment no action was taken.
Another two promises from Cllr Green:
1. Anybody with a problem can contact me direct at leader@wirral.gov. uk (hasn't that always been the case, Jeff?)
and
2. I've set up a specialist team to deal with this mess.
Sorry to be cynical, Jeff, but where do these two new promises fit into the whole scheme of things?
Are producing an unredacted Klonowski Report and giving Martin Morton his job back now relegated to number 3 and number 4 on the 'Jeff Green Promises' Hit Parade?
My experience tells me Cllr Green works in a re-active manner. He will make a soundbite on whatever given issue is currently in the public eye. This weeks topic is the 4 week delay. In the past it has been the Morton affair. Next week it will be something else.
If you look back you will see that certain promises have been made but then events are overtaken and they are not kept.
I dont doubt Cllr Greens sincerity but also believe that their are many other internal issues that also need to be addressed if Wirral Council is to develop and perfom to its best for the people of Wirral.
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
2:51pm Tue 13 Mar 12
I hope this isn't the case. He shouldn't be playing politics with peoples emotions.
He keeps calling for investigations. Let's have an investigation into why people are saying he takes no action when they e-mail him with serious problems.
After all, that's why we the council tax payers provide him and his 65 other council colleagues with state-of-the art PCs in the first place.
Cheesy Peas
says...
2:56pm Tue 13 Mar 12
I'd imagine - hope? - that that is no longer the case.
I also think we should give Cllr Green the benefit of the doubt and see what happens over the next few days in terms of suspensions etc.
Cheesy Peas
says...
2:57pm Tue 13 Mar 12
red devil
says...
5:48pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
6:10pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Here is an extract from the official minutes of a meeting of the council held on 13th February - A MONTH AGO - at which Jeff Green was made Leader:-
"Councillor Jeff Green , having received advice that all members would be entitled to receive an un-redacted version of the AKA Report..."
and:
"CouncilLor Jeff Green, having been elected Leader of the Council gave an acceptance speech in which...(he stated) a matter of priority was that Mr Martin Morton was once again employed by the Authority and officers needed to progress this immediately."
A month ago !! So, have councillors received copies of an un-redacted AKA Report (and if so, why can't we plebs see it as well)? Has Mr Morton been given his job back?
A month ago !! Political posturing?
hugo2008
says...
7:07pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Offer any kind of an explanation on the record or even off the record, as to why this situation and other situations have been allowed to happen.
Proving once again they almost all 66 of them to a person are so deeply involved in this mire, and regard any and all Obfuscation, Denials, Deceit, and Underhanded disgraceful behaviour to be perfectly acceptable in Council Dealings.
Who needs them, Labour, Liberal or Conservative, all the same. "Kick Them Out" never again vote for a Political Party.
"Pick a New Face" anything is better than what we have at present.
council officer
says...
7:16pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Cheesy Peas wrote:When Cllr Green was last in charge he made similar promises to all staff with an internal bulletin.
@council watcher
I'd imagine - hope? - that that is no longer the case.
I also think we should give Cllr Green the benefit of the doubt and see what happens over the next few days in terms of suspensions etc.
He asked for staff to contact him with their concerns and promised he would act on them. Did anything change? NO!
Cllr Green has promised much recently but has anything been delivered? No
Despite the AKA report, nothing has changed. For God sake they are promoting the Head of Spin to the Head of Policy at the next Cabinet. What chance have we got?
PaulCa
says...
8:07pm Tue 13 Mar 12
So let's ask ourselves, "Did it take courage to produce and distribute this? Or was it a case of mean-spirited and selfish opportunism?"
I think we all know the answer, so let's keep these people on task and watch them closely.
They need to extricate themselves from the gutter now and show us they're capable of cleansing the place once and for all, by providing accountability in the form of disciplinary measures.
This is quite straightforward and will be the levelling of Gross Misconduct charges followed by sackings; the kind of approach that's been historically adopted to deal with junior officers; clerks; cleaners; and say, lighting design engineers, who either blow the whistle or don't toe the party line.
unbeleivable
says...
8:33pm Tue 13 Mar 12
reliant22
says...
8:17am Wed 14 Mar 12
typical DASS, no compassion, somewhat akin to Cllr Moira Mc Laughlin`s (Cabinet member for Social Care at the time) outburst to nurses protesting against closure of Ward 6 VCH, in times past, (because of your behaviour don`t come looking for jobs at my place of work)
With regard to the late Mrs Robinson and why no fury until now? Would that be because DASS had a policy of deleting emails without being opened even if it is a complain? Would that be because DASS was not even prepared to listen to one of their own Managers,ie Martin Morton and also Andy Campbell? Would that also be because when (Normal) people are bereaved, they are more concerned about their loss than complaining.
Your comments, rogirby, directed at jimrob are a total disgrace and you should withdraw and apologise.
WirralAl
says...
12:03pm Wed 14 Mar 12
The Leader of the Council has most of the facts in front of him including names of the guilty including Cllr Moira McLaughlin and previous Cllrs and Ex Leaders.
They should all be named and we should be told exactly what their part was in this complete and utter fiasco and then action
taken as appropriate.
Clean up this mess once and for all and then set up a new policy that is workable and affordable system that is fit for purpose and cares for the people that need it.
I cannot believe that this is still being allowed to go on.
Cllr Jeff Green needs to ACT NOW or what is the point in having the whole process that has gone on for months/years
Was it just to score points and become leader??
You wont be leader for long unless you show that you can act and perform the role that you are employed to perform.
The whole saga is like a sick sitcom but it is real and people have died.
The council have wasted millions of our council tax no matter what party and they still have not started to sort out this mess!
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
12:13pm Wed 14 Mar 12
Well, his first speech to Council after taking over the leadership/seizing power in a ConDem coup was hyper-macho. "There are going to be a few changes around here from now on" was the thrust of it.
A month on and there is no unredacted Klonowski Report, despite his promise. Martin Morton still hasn't had his job back, despite his promise. Nobody has been suspended, let alone sacked, despite a tsunami of new allegations published in The Globe.
The Queen of Spin is being promoted, though, the Mayor remains untouchable and there are yet more enquiries being set up.
It looks very much as though the answer to your question, Wirral Al, is "Yes".
Mary Adair
says...
2:00pm Wed 14 Mar 12
Mary Adair
says...
3:15pm Wed 14 Mar 12
uncatom
says...
4:44pm Wed 14 Mar 12
PaulCa
says...
11:56pm Wed 14 Mar 12
In 2002/3, a panel of advisers called "The Local Democracy Working Party", led by someone called Don Latham (paid £2,000 by councillors for his stirling involvement) gave obscene pay rises to Wirral Councillors as follows:
Basic allowance (all members) 16% - £1,200.
Opposition Leader (Was it Jeff Green then?) 30.5% - £3,050.
Leader's special responsibility allowance (Foulkes) 36% - £5,050.
Rather strange isn't it? Councillors pay a consultant £2,000 and leading a panel, packed with business types and wanting favours / prestige, magics up an absolutely obscene pay hike that dwarfed the 3% given to the bullied and oppressed council workforce at the time.
This historical info may give people an insight into how the high ideal of "public service" is so easily eroded, subverted and replaced by greed, fear, backstabbing and eventual systematic abuse of power.
woodyres
says...
9:09am Thu 15 Mar 12
What is the delay ? This issue cannot be allowed to be forgotten !!
council officer
says...
9:46am Thu 15 Mar 12
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
10:16am Thu 15 Mar 12
Buried deep in a report from the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management to councillors (dated 1st March), as they meet to decide on whether to return to the committee form of council governance:-
" Operating under a committee system will mean that the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) will need to review the new arrangements and make proposals for changes to Members Allowances.
The role of chair of a committee is significantly different to that of a Cabinet Member. Based on the council's previous committee arrangements, it is possible that there will be more decision making meetings taking place, but possibly with more chairs as compared to the number of cabinet members.
THIS MEANS THE IRP WOULD BE LIKELY TO PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE CURRENT ALLOWANCES TO ALIGN WITH ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM."
For 'changes to current allowances' read 'increases in allowances'.
Until I read this I was puzzled as to why the Condem Junta wanted to rush these changes through.
Now it's clear.
RL 1952
says...
12:52pm Thu 15 Mar 12
Cllr Green there needs to be immediate major radical changes, time is passing by and changes are not being noted continually "fiddling whilst Wirral burns!!!" is not an option bite the bullet and rid Wirral DASS of all those pathetic managerial souls who are totally incapable of being professional open honest and transparent in their dealings with the council tax payers of Wirral it has gone on for far too long and needs to end NOW!!.
As for home care services these have needed detailed investigation since their privatisation back in 2004/5 but all you get is a contact officer covering up poor quality care for reasons best known to themselves whilst care company owners rake in the profits.
What a dreadful place Wirral is to live if you are old, frail or disabled in need of good quality care
woodyres
says...
2:09pm Thu 15 Mar 12
Ben Beaconsfield wrote:Well, I would like to suggest a change to members allowances, cut it by 12% (but don't tell them) and then tell them we will probably cut it again by the end of the month.
PaulCa: Buried deep in a report from the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management to councillors (dated 1st March), as they meet to decide on whether to return to the committee form of council governance:- " Operating under a committee system will mean that the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) will need to review the new arrangements and make proposals for changes to Members Allowances. The role of chair of a committee is significantly different to that of a Cabinet Member. Based on the council's previous committee arrangements, it is possible that there will be more decision making meetings taking place, but possibly with more chairs as compared to the number of cabinet members. THIS MEANS THE IRP WOULD BE LIKELY TO PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE CURRENT ALLOWANCES TO ALIGN WITH ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM." For 'changes to current allowances' read 'increases in allowances'. Until I read this I was puzzled as to why the Condem Junta wanted to rush these changes through. Now it's clear.
Why ? Because that is exactly what has/is happening with the payment of fees for the care of our vulnerable elderly people who need long term care in homes.
That's fair isn't it ??
Sorry if I am repeating myself, but this kind of attitude make me so very angry.
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
3:59pm Thu 15 Mar 12
At the next level up on the political pecking order, it's interesting to see what our Members of Parliament are doing about this.
If I were a Wirral MP, knowing what they know about this sorry mess (if only because of the sterling work by The Globe and by posters to various threads here and their direct contact with the likes of Frank Field) I would be chaining myself to railings in order to get some action.
Instead, what did we get? A half-hour sparsely attended debate in Westminster Hall, where only two Wirral MP's turned up (Field and McVey).
Compare that with today's going-on in the House of Commons chamber itself. A TWO HOUR debate attended by dozens of MP's, including Ministers and Shadow Ministers, on whether to charge people to visit Big Ben !!
If I had been Field, Eagle, McGovern or McVey, I would be jumping up and down on my seat in the chamber, waving a copy of the Klonowski Report and demanding action.
Witch Finder General 2
says...
1:13am Fri 16 Mar 12
Tewkesbury Borough Council was put into what is called voluntary engagement in 2006 amid concerns about performance, including its political leadership. Sadly that is now what needs to happen at WBC .If there was enough concern perhaps an E petition from Wirral Council Tax Payers is the way forward .
woodyres
says...
9:59am Fri 16 Mar 12
I wonder should we get another Esther involved ? Esther Rantzen, who was on GMTV this morning raising this very issue, the appalling lack of care for our elderly vulnerable adults.
I am sure she would be very interested in the behaviour of WBC.
There is also a Which report out today saying the same thing, mainly about home care which fully supports everything JimRob and his family have suffered.
When is it all going to end ? When is someone REALLY going to do something about it ? Not use it a a form of political spin to gain votes in May.
I despair, I really do.
Witch Finder General 2
says...
9:32am Sun 25 Mar 12
Cheesy Peas says...
5:19pm Mon 12 Mar 12
The council's spin machine said this had never happened.
The former DASS director said it never happened.
And yet - there it is, in black and white - the four week waiver DID happen.
God only knows how many lives may have been lost so that some faceless "public" official could trim his or her budget.
This is absolutely disgraceful.
Can that lot stoop any lower than endangering the lives or the vulnerable - and then lie to cover it up?
Who the hell are these people? And more importantly, why are they still there?