BACK in June Cllr Davies, the leader of the council, announced that his cabinet was going to get the basics right.

Residents do not have to look far to see how much needs to be done.

Wirral is still blighted by the weeds along the streets.

Children's services are improving, but progress with the Growth Company and key projects seems to have slowed.

Hard-working staff remain committed to delivering the services people are paying council tax for.

Residents can fairly ask, with the daily revelations about battles within the local Labour Party, whether the council’s energies are being sapped.

The threat to the Green Belt and the issue of the Golf Resort means that the council is battling on many fronts.

Both these issues have brought people of all political views out to protest.

The need to release so much land is rightly being challenged.

The possible loan of £26m to further the Golf Resort has both puzzled and enraged people.

The time is now right to drop that project and concentrate on getting the basics right.

Cllr Phil Gilchrist, Wirral Liberal Democrats leader