The buck should stop with Wirral council leader (From Wirral Globe)

Having worked for Wirral Council for many years I can say with certainty that the Human Resources department has some members of staff who are simply not fit for purpose. Not all the staff by any means, but a good percentage of them are claiming wages under false pretences, as they are just not doing their jobs properly.
As for Steve Foulkes, I may be wrong, but I have a feeling that he would sell his own Granny to save his deceitful hide!

I work for Wirral Council and there is good people who are committed to doing the best they can.

Unfortunately, there is also overpaid senior officers who, quite frankly, are not up to the job.

Most of the junior officers are just people like you and me, who want to take pride in doing a good job and earn their money and be proud of the work they do.

Until we get a change at the top, then we will get no change!

I agree with the comment about the HR dept. Anyone who works for the Council will tell you that the HR policies and processes are never properly followed and staff are left on "gardening leave" for months and even years.

There is a senior officer who works in the Cheshire Lines building who is an excellent leader and should one day lead Wirral Council....

No, the buck should START with the council leader - swiftly followed by the chief executive and the mayor, the head of spin, and the various failed scrutiny committee chairpersons over the years.

And that's just for starters.

Cheesy Peas wrote:
No, the buck should START with the council leader - swiftly followed by the chief executive and the mayor, the head of spin, and the various failed scrutiny committee chairpersons over the years.

And that's just for starters.

Can't argue with Cheesy Peas. However, looking around the Town Hall, don't expect any of the above doing the right thing anytime soon!

Every large organisation has dead wood, and Wirral Council is clearly no exception. The difference here appears to be that firstly, the man at the top has adopted a limpet-like devotion to the power he wields, and secondly, that he has enthusiastically embraced the classic New Labour defence adopted by those politicians who are accused of failure and sleaze. This policy holds that if youre caught with your trousers down, you cling onto power, then repeat in a loud voice to anyone who will listen that "these trousers must never be allowed to fall down again" until people get fed up listening, leave you alone and let you Carry on Cocking Up. As for those employees in HR who are not fit for purpose, maybe an opportunity for fellow council officers to do some further whistle blowing whilst the iron is hot?

Esther McVey Has done the right thing referring this to the PM and about time too, Angela Eagle has also looked into the disability rights side of this, well done to both of you.

What about the Current Mayor of Wirral - Councillor Moira McLaughlin, lets not forget she was the one at the helm of social services when all this happened.

Labour should have sacked her from the party for her involvement in all this, but instead have tried to protect her, bringing down the integrity of whole council, all councillors, all parties and especially the Labour group.

She is buried up to it, but no councillor or official can or will say anything of her involvement because she is the current Mayor, yet she has to stand up and be counted.

It is rumoured that she is positioning herself to become the next Labour leader here in Wirral.

She is watching the whole council fall apart, her party internally collapse in the hope she will be left alone and come out of this Labour leader, and if Labour still hold onto power become leader of the council.


Councillor Moira McLaughlin where is your statement on this issue, stand up and be counted, you should resign immediately from local politics and hang your head in shame.

Smoke screen, smoke screen smoke screen!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "Buck" should most definately NOT "stop with Wirral council leader".

Don't you get it?????

These elected councillors are all as thick as two short plankes. I doub't that if brains were dynamite, all of them put together, would have enough to blow a hat off.

JIM WILKIE RUNS WIRRAL!!!!

He has for the past 15 years. HE tells the elected members what to think, say and do.

Any SERIOUS investigation into this debarcle MUST start with Wilkie's involvement.

I can almost hear Wilkie's office shredder over-heating from where I sit and type this.

If we really want anything to change for the better in Wirral, WILKIE must be sacked.

Jimrob wrote:
Smoke screen, smoke screen smoke screen!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "Buck" should most definately NOT "stop with Wirral council leader".

Don't you get it?????

These elected councillors are all as thick as two short plankes. I doub't that if brains were dynamite, all of them put together, would have enough to blow a hat off.

JIM WILKIE RUNS WIRRAL!!!!

He has for the past 15 years. HE tells the elected members what to think, say and do.

Any SERIOUS investigation into this debarcle MUST start with Wilkie's involvement.

I can almost hear Wilkie's office shredder over-heating from where I sit and type this.

If we really want anything to change for the better in Wirral, WILKIE must be sacked.

Very interesting Jimrob!

I was under the impression that Mr Wilkie does nothing without first taking advice from the woman in the Ugg boots!

If it was me, I would get rid of both of them.

bickyboy wrote:
Every large organisation has dead wood, and Wirral Council is clearly no exception. The difference here appears to be that firstly, the man at the top has adopted a limpet-like devotion to the power he wields, and secondly, that he has enthusiastically embraced the classic New Labour defence adopted by those politicians who are accused of failure and sleaze. This policy holds that if youre caught with your trousers down, you cling onto power, then repeat in a loud voice to anyone who will listen that "these trousers must never be allowed to fall down again" until people get fed up listening, leave you alone and let you Carry on Cocking Up. As for those employees in HR who are not fit for purpose, maybe an opportunity for fellow council officers to do some further whistle blowing whilst the iron is hot?

bickyboy....I think you will see alot more staff coming forward...eventually
!

However, they will only come forward once they know its safe to do so.

whilst all the senior officers remain, staff are scared of coming forward for fear of retribution.

Even whilst the AKA report was being compiled staff are still being singled out but no-one wants to come forward.

There is a female senior officer who has a fierce reputation for sending people out to the long grass. Many have found you cross her at your peril.

Well done even if its a bit late to the Honourable MP Esther McVey, she has at least shown some embarrassment at being in politics during a small part of this terrible scandal.

What about the other less than useless parasite MPs in Wirral both past and present, not worth a carrot.

As for most of the present elected Councillors, they are beneath contempt for they to a greater or lesser extent, colluded, and connived with those most deeply involved in the mire of deceit, lies, and obfuscation, for years.

They almost to a person went along with allowing some of this scum to occupy important positions like heading so called Committees and Mayoral duties on behalf of the Wirral population. What a disgrace to humanity they proved to be.

Lots of names are now being bandied about as candidates for the chop, and I can't argue with any of them.

Thinking outside the box for a moment, isn't there now a clear argument for an elected mayor of Wirral, not just a figurehead but somebody with serious executive powers and answerable regularly to the electorate as a whole (note: current politicians need not apply).

Elected Mayor:

I think we have missed the boat, in the near future we are most probably going to get a "Merseyside Mayor" ruling both sides of the river.

We did have a vote once for an elected Mayor in Wirral, of the votes that were cast the majority actually wanted an elected Mayor, but Steve Foulkes overruled and ignored this democratic decision.

I would like to see all senior positions within the council open to elections, and an elected Mayor with full executive powers, charged with the task of vastly reducing the total cost of Wirral Borough Council, starting from the top.

An elected leader answerable to the population of Wirral who bother to vote, regardless of Party Politics.
After all it is our tax and rates that pay for it all, both those elected and employed, and we are not getting value for money.

hugo2008 wrote:
Elected Mayor:

I think we have missed the boat, in the near future we are most probably going to get a "Merseyside Mayor" ruling both sides of the river.

We did have a vote once for an elected Mayor in Wirral, of the votes that were cast the majority actually wanted an elected Mayor, but Steve Foulkes overruled and ignored this democratic decision.

I would like to see all senior positions within the council open to elections, and an elected Mayor with full executive powers, charged with the task of vastly reducing the total cost of Wirral Borough Council, starting from the top.

An elected leader answerable to the population of Wirral who bother to vote, regardless of Party Politics.
After all it is our tax and rates that pay for it all, both those elected and employed, and we are not getting value for money.

The problem with the vote for the elected Mayor for Wirral was that only about 50 people responded and although the vote was for an elected Mayor, the sample was deemed to small to be recognised as safe.

When did this vote for an elected mayor happen?

Was it Wirral-wide? Did everybody get a ballot paper? How could Steve Foulkes over-rule such a poll?

I don't remember any such thing - I hope I'm not losing my marbles. Please help !!

I understand it went out with some other Council info. It could have been with the Council Tax info we get each year. It definately went out tho but was pretty much ignored. If you contact the Council's Legal Services Dept you will get the info you need.

Not good enough, council officer. Your vagueness belies your non-de-plume.

Don't you have better access to the Legal Services Dept than most of us plebs? You made the assertion - you should now back it up with facts.

council officer wrote:

Jimrob wrote: Smoke screen, smoke screen smoke screen!!!!!!!!!!!!! The "Buck" should most definately NOT "stop with Wirral council leader". Don't you get it????? These elected councillors are all as thick as two short plankes. I doub't that if brains were dynamite, all of them put together, would have enough to blow a hat off. JIM WILKIE RUNS WIRRAL!!!! He has for the past 15 years. HE tells the elected members what to think, say and do. Any SERIOUS investigation into this debarcle MUST start with Wilkie's involvement. I can almost hear Wilkie's office shredder over-heating from where I sit and type this. If we really want anything to change for the better in Wirral, WILKIE must be sacked.

Very interesting Jimrob! I was under the impression that Mr Wilkie does nothing without first taking advice from the woman in the Ugg boots! If it was me, I would get rid of both of them.

I agree with all that has been said. I think I can hear them munching on lunch! and planning the next move! But I am yet to hear the movement of your new furniture!! Perhaps you best get back to McDonalds-I understand you started there! I rest my case!

council officer wrote:

Jimrob wrote: Smoke screen, smoke screen smoke screen!!!!!!!!!!!!! The "Buck" should most definately NOT "stop with Wirral council leader". Don't you get it????? These elected councillors are all as thick as two short plankes. I doub't that if brains were dynamite, all of them put together, would have enough to blow a hat off. JIM WILKIE RUNS WIRRAL!!!! He has for the past 15 years. HE tells the elected members what to think, say and do. Any SERIOUS investigation into this debarcle MUST start with Wilkie's involvement. I can almost hear Wilkie's office shredder over-heating from where I sit and type this. If we really want anything to change for the better in Wirral, WILKIE must be sacked.

Very interesting Jimrob! I was under the impression that Mr Wilkie does nothing without first taking advice from the woman in the Ugg boots! If it was me, I would get rid of both of them.

Yep spot on with your post!! I would start with Wee Willie Wilkie & the elf-who between them are destroying this Council! Then I would look at each department starting with HR-I would get rid of the dead wood, clueless and brainless that would be a big budget saving!

Ben Beaconsfield wrote:
Not good enough, council officer. Your vagueness belies your non-de-plume.

Don't you have better access to the Legal Services Dept than most of us plebs? You made the assertion - you should now back it up with facts.

No response eh, Ben.
Not another troll, surely? Has the company that made Lord of the Rings suddenly sacked all its extras?

Didn't really expect one, bickyboy, based on past performances.

Postings on this and other threads could now be beginning to coalesce around an attractive-looking platform (OK, some are my postings, but a bit of self-promotion never hurt anybody. Ask any councillor !!):-

a. Bring in Local Government Commissioners to run Wirral for the next twelve months.

b. Establish an over-arching Public Enquiry into all aspects of the running of our local authority, with powers to disqualify councillors from further public office and to sack - without compromise agreements - guilty council officials.

c. Introduce an elected Mayor of Wirral with wide executive powers.

d. Er, that's about it....

I am a life-long democrat and I never ever envisaged the day when I would support such a platform, but enough is enough.

(Final note - this is how Lenin and Trotsky must have felt in 1917 !!).