IT IS no surprise that the unions are angry about Wirral Council spending more than £1,700 a day on outside consultants to "oversee public affairs and communications".

The response to such measures, as exclusively revealed in the Globe, has been clearly indicated on this paper's letters page and website.

The Inferno asks, surely there must be staff within the WBC corridors of power who could do the job?

If not, then spend the money training specialists – this would be real investment in local staff.

Just as the council came up with an ambitious "20 Pledges" campaign to be delivered by 2020, it now needs to show it can live up to its "most improved council" tag.

Last year I asked readers to come up with a suitable logo for Wirral Council.

One wrote to me to suggest adapting the clown statue in New Brighton with the said performer juggling and dropping bags of money.

Better still he said, why not get a consultant in?

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HATS off to Noddy Holder who has became a companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) where Sir Paul McCartney is the proud lead patron.

The Inferno met the former Slade front man after he was given his cap and gown in recognition for his 'masterclass' with LIPA students.

Noddy, whose son is at LIPA, told me in his famous Brummie accent how much he loves his career.

Noddy says, like The Beatles, Slade played absolutely everywhere from Wolverhampton to Wirral “We did play many areas, including Wirral.

"We formed in 1966 and I probably had some great times in Wirral. I just wish I could remember them,” he laughed."

Noddy said he never tires of the anthemic song Merry Xmas Everybody.

He says he was proud that the hit (recorded on a hot July day in America) makes an impact every year.

He said: "Just as the cuckoo is the first sign of spring, that song is the sign that Christmas is on its way."

He's right! There are only 140 shopping days to go.

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IN NEWSPAPERS August is deemed the "silly season" when stories appear that would not normally see the light of day.

Television however has seemingly adopted the silly season all year round.

As we watch more Benefits Specials on Channel 5 – I have now dubbed it Channel Nose Dive – it seems ITV is out-dumbing them.

ITV has managed what the BBC's spoof comedy W1A happily mocks – featuring programme-makers coming up with the unthinkable.

Flockstars is the latest daft concept where B-list celebrities become shepherds.

This is a great alternative to counting sheep to get to sleep.

Once again the TV planners are pulling the wool over our eyes.

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PEOPLE-power looms again. New Brighton Community Cares has launched a Facebook page with 400 members, and rising.

They are "at the end of their tether" with the ugly anti-social behaviour from gangs of ‘disrespectful teenagers’ who are apparently out to cause mindless mayhem from verbal, intimidating abuse to damaging cars and the environment.

Now NBC wants to work with local councillors and the police in a bid to restore order to what the group says is usually "a beautiful and safe place to live."

Sadly, just after a meeting last week, one disgusted resident saw gangs uproot plants for fun.

The Globe supports this passionate rallying call where the authority, police and businesses get together to halt a very serious problem.

The neighbourhood policing team is committed to dealing with anti social behaviour and crime.

The New Brighton Community group is also calling out with a heart felt collective plea: "Please stand with us and join our Facebook page and cause – united we are strong."

AND finally – Jeremy Clarkson says leaving the BBC for Amazon TV was like switching from a bi-plane to a spacecraft. So JC, can you now get into top gear and fly off to Pluto on a one-way ticket?

Peter Grant