3 November 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester - Scrutiny Committee Northwich Mem. Hall

This was a marathon session.  In the afternoon I had an informal meeting discussing how we should organise planning committees and the scrutiny function going forward.  I suggested a radical way of organising the planning committees - time will show whether the proposal is adopted.

Then there is Scrutiny.  I have been mentioning to anyone that will listen that we have a problem and Scrutiny.  The problem is a question of logistics and talent - and a recognition that Cllrs do not have a monopoly on wisdom.  I've been pressing the need for CW&C to be prepared to co-opt non-Cllrs both to widen the talent available and to try and bring some real expertise an experience to our work when we become fully fledged post 1 April.  Again as a concept this has seemingly been agreed.

So we had our second public session scutinising the Executive - and if you want to see it or listen to it - go to the Cheshire West web site where 30 mins of video highlights and the entire audio track are available!   It was an interesting meeting - and gave a good opportunity for the public and Cllrs to ask questions.  As one Cllr put it to me - "I've learnt far more in the last 2 hours than I have from countless Council meetings."

I think that means that it was effective scutiny!

27 October 2008 - FTC Council meeting

I do wonder sometimes whether FTC exists to provide talking therapies for some  - if only I didn't have to spectate!  

24 October 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Environment Policy Development Board

I'm not sure this meeting achieved too much.

23 October 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Shadow Council

A fascinating evening. 

Should we seek Borough status for Cheshire West & Chester?  The Conservatives say yes, Labour says yes - the Lib Dems abstained - seemingly to apply pressure in Cheshire West & Chester so they could receive allowances as a party.  Trouble is with only 4 Councillors out of 72 will anyone notice?

Borough status is important to the extent that only Borough's have Mayors!

Now the issue of Mayors and Lord Mayors.  I'm delighted to say that the solution I put forward has been adopted.  One person to hold two posts - the Lord Mayorship of Chester and the Mayor of Cheshire West & Chester. 

Its crazy we've ended up in this situation - blame the DCLG for their lack of forsight!

20 October 2008 - FTC Council Meeting

Well this was an extra meeting seeking to finish the business that was left undone in September.  We got through the business rapidly in an hour - inlcuding the Council agreeing with my suggestion that we should do what we can to improve First Aid provision in Frodsham.

11 October 2008 - Canvassing in Northwich and comment on Brown's outrageous mismangement of the economy.

A group of us went canvassing in Northwich on Saturday.  We were in territory you wouldn't readily associate with being conservative leaning - however we were very well received on the doorstep.  Many were troubled by what they saw as insufficient policing and, of course the economy.

So what do we make of the Brown "solution" to the present economic turmoil?

First I note we know longer here the nonesense that Brown had abolished "boom and bust."  We are so bust now! 

Secondly I observe that as a country we now have a higher level of debt than we did after the second world war.  The official figures for the national debt are around £650bn before this latest bail out which will take the figures spiraling upwards yet again.  And these debt figures do not include large items such as PFI projects and National Rail's debts.

This government deliberately sought to give everyone a feel good factor by making money easily available by - the apparent growth in living standards was fuelled by easy credit.  But now the credit has dried up and the bubble in asset prices such as the unsustainable property boom has popped with a vengence.  The economic pain has only barely started to be felt.

Government borrowing is often characterised as deferred taxation - brace yourself for higher taxation and constrained government spending if we are to avoid Icelandic style bankruptcy in a few years time.  It will either be that or a handy burst of inflation to devalue the burden of debt created.

Thirdly, and so far as I'm concerned what really troubles me. is that the government is throwing extraordinary billions in seeking to reinflate the collapsing bubble - that will only end in yet more tears with money disappearing into financial black holes.

2 October 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Shadow Authority - Scrutiny Committee

Ellesmere Port Boat Museum

This scrutiny meeting was our first opportunity as a committee to question members of the Executive face to face.  We had the pleasure of grilling the Leader Cllr Mike Jones and two of his executive colleagues Cllr Arthur Harada and Cllr Herbert Manley.

We want CW&C to be a very different type of Council - as open and accessible as we can realistically can be.  So this pointed to the meeting being held away from Council buildings, the public being invited to question their politicians directly alongside the Commitee and the questioning by the public and the Scrutiny Committee being made accessible to all by web-cast and audio podcast.

You could think of its as a cross between Question Time and Prime Minister's Question Time!  There were doubts expressed before hand as to whether a meeting in this style would work.  Well I'm happy to say that afterwards everyone I spoke to and all members of the Committee and Executive supported what we'd done and the recording.

One of the Labour members of the Committee did not attend.  I received a message that the Labour party was not sending a substitute as they did not support the video recording.  Assuming the report I received was accurate it begs the question are the local Labour politicians scared of being seen doing their job?

The next Scrutiny Committee meeting in which we will question the Executive is being arranged now - it will almost certainly be in Northwich in early November.

1 October 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Shadow Authority - Mayoral Scrutiny

I was double booked today.  The Mayoral Scrutiny for CW&C and the area meeting for the Gypsy & Travellers site in Frodsham for Vale Royal.  Fortunately my colleague Cllr Mark Ingram chaired the Vale Royal meeting and gave my apologies.  I gather the meeting was told just how thorough a job was done at the Vale Royal Scrutiny meeeting.

The Mayoral Scrutiny at CW&C was cross party and we achieved consensus that we at least wish to see one Mayor for all of CW&C - effectively we are looking for Chester's historic Lord Mayorality to be enlarged in some guise to cover the entirety of Cheshire West.  It remains to be seen whether this will be possible.

25 September 2008 - Vale Royal - Community Scrutiny and Council

We resumed the Community Scrutiny meeting and continued debating the Gypsy and Traveller site consultation process.  The Committee ended up making several recommendations to the Executive about the way in which such exercise should be conducted in the future.

One of the most important issues so far as I am concerned is the way the Council deals with what are known as "hard to reach" groups.  Taking what has happened in and around the Ship Street area as an example I am livid that the Council unintentionally gave the impression that responses to the consultation could only be given electronically over the internet and that not enough was done early enough to ensure that the real story was being portrayed - and not the sensational accounts provided in the press.  I am also cross that no attempt was made to ensure that the most vulnerable in society did receive information in a way they could understand it.

Its through my lobbying and persuasion that Vale Royal did agree to and has started to write directly to the people most closely affected by the proposals.  The Council had not even planned to hold exhibitions and events locally originally.  It strikes me that the Council grossly underestimated the need to ensure people were properly informed early in the process.  Belatedly it appears that this is now being addressed. 

This process did not start well - it was not Vale Royal's finest hour.  Hopefully through the detailed scrutinising we have done much to improve the transparency of the process.  I've also persuaded the Council to perform a formal risk assessment on the risks of public consultation not being properly performed - the immense damage to the Council's reputation that can arise through such a process being mishandled is now all to self evident.  Fail to plan - plan to fail!

The full Council meeting was a lively affair.  Winsford toilets again and then the Chester Waste Contract issue.  There is a suggestion that Vale Royal residents will be subsidising the weekly colllection now being arrangeed by Chester City Council which will, of course after 1 April 2009 fall to the new Cheshire West & Chester Council to run.

Close analysis of the Chester Contract reveals:

• it is cheaper than their existing arrangements - so this will produce savings from the budget;
• the new contract will produce much higher recycling rates than Chester's existing scheme - heading towards what is being achieved in Vale Royal;
• the people of Chester voted for this scheme and were actively consulted on it;
• it had to be let now, before Cheshire West & Chester came into existence - the legal issues are complex and letting a contract of this size under EU rules takes many months to progress;
• the Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port  Neston schemes are different - and are up for renewal in 2012;
• The Conservative Vale Royal Councillors also on the Cheshire West & Chester Council lobbied hard and secured a break clause be inserted into the Chester City scheme to allow for a single system to be adopted by the new authority as soon as possible - in 2012;

I wish to see the best environmental and recycling performance from such a service providing it is pragmatic and affordable.  Having looked very hard at this issue and studied the details closely, and having started from the premise that Chester should adopt a Vale Royal type collection service I have come to the view that what is to be adopted in Chester for the next 3 years is the most sensible and environmentally sound arrangement that could be achieved.  This is an anomaly caused by the reorganisation of local government - and there will be others. 

I enjoyed the political sparks and debate which have been absent from Vale Royal.

22 September 2008 - Frodsham Town Council - Council Meeting

Somethings FTC does well and many things FTC does very badly.  We had the contrasts before us tonight.  The good stuff.  After an uncertain start FTC has, in my opinion conducted an excellent consultation on the Gypsy and Travellers Site proposal and is able to submit a representave view from Frodsham people to Vale Royal.  I chose to abstain on the relevant votes on this issue so as to avoid any suggestion of pre-determination if I am called upon to vote at Vale Royal.

Now the bad stuff.  Yet again we were overloaded with issues.  This meeting finished with much business untouched.  The Council does not seem able to distinguish between the important and the trivial.  For example there was more spoken about the installation of plaques on seats for deceased former Councillors than there was about the Council's charitable trusts being under funded - and effectively bankrupt.

We rarely have tight votes at FTC but we did on Monday.  A member of the public has submitted a number of concerns which he says need looking into.  I don't know whether there is merit in what he says and the email exchanges run to 41 pages!  I argued that these issues should be looked into - however we split 6:6 on the issue and the Mayor used her casting vote to reject that proposal.  Unfortunately there is "history" with this individual and FTC.  By its actions it strikes me that FTC has effectively said to this individual that we won't listen to anything you say.   I don't think this is appropriate at all.  FTC risks making a martyr and perhaps giving greater credence to the issues raised than they may merit.  To my mind this approach is misguided and sends the wrong signals out.

18 September 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Community Scrutiny

I was chairing this meeting.  We started at 6:30pm and adjourned to return another day at 10:10pm.  The full agenda included a full debate on the provision of public toilets in the Borough and in Winsford in particular.  The Committee voted overwhelming to advise the Executive that a permanent solutions must be sought and something done, even if only temporarily to ensure proper provision by Christmas.

The Committee then considered the manner in which Val Royal has gone about the Gypsy and Traveller site consultation exercise.  As the consultation process is ongoing this scrutiny exercise solely considered the manner of the consultation.  I took the unusual step of allowing members of the public to take part in the scrutiny process and be directly involved in the debate.

We had only considered around half of the issues when we adjourned at 10:10pm and decided to reconvene in a weeks time.

15 September 2008

Apologies.  I'm sorry as you can see it has been more than a month since I wrote this blog.  I've been on holiday with my family to the Vendee in France.  It was very relaxing and inspite of my intentions I took an enforced break from Council business.  I managed to leave my computer's power lead at home - so no connectivity!

On my return Cheshire West & Chester Council had another Scrutiny Committee Call-in to deal with.  The intensity of the debate seen in the Chester Waste Contract was missing this time!

Soon after this my family had to deal with an unexpected bereavement of a close relative of mine.  I have only just returned from the funeral.  I trust you'll all forgive me for my silence.  I have been deeply touched by the condolences offered and the kindness shown to my family and to me.

7 August 2008 Cheshire West & Chester - Scrutiny Committee Call-In

Chester Waste Contract

This was the first test of our constitution and the call-in power.  7 Councillors can suspend a decision made by the Executive by submitting a call-in notice which then requires a full debate on the issue by the Scrutiny Committee.  That Committee can chose to offer no advice or to send the matter back to the Executive with advice.  The original decision can only be implemented after Scrutiny has either offered no advice - or if it has once the Executive has considered that advice.

We have had 3 call-in notices - but this waste contract for Chester is the most urgent from a commercial standpoint - so I have certified the special circumstances for convening the meeting on short notice. 

Very few of us have had experience of any call-ins - so this was new territory for many of us and we had to feel our way through the procedures which were novel to all of us.

The debate lasted about 2 hours and gave the call-in members the opportunity they wanted to scrutinise the Executive's decision.  As the meeting was held in private session I can't report the debate - other than to say Members left the meeting feeling that they had had their say.

At the end I was thanked for the way I had chaired the meeting - especially from the Labour party - as I said at the time - being thanked by the opposition can be very worrying!    Joking aside I thought the call-in was an excellent exercise in democracy.

4 August 2008 Gypsy & Traveller Site Consultation (FTC & VR)

I've beeen pushing this issue very hard.  I can't believe how poorly people are being treated.  They are entitled to express their views and it is almost as if the local authorities wer conspiring to prevent it happening.  An object lesson in breeding resentment.  I'm to chair VR's Community Scrutiny Committee in September and have insisted that the manner in which the consultation exercise has been carried out is fully examined.  This is on 16 September at Wyvern House Winsford - all welcome!

FTC has decided it wants a proper public debate.  This was originally scheduled for 7 August - now put back to 8 August - which I can't attend.  Can I trust FTC to represent all I have been doing fairly - time alone will tell!

31 July 2008 Cheshire West & Chester Shadow Council

A fascinating evening.  I tabled 6 Questions for Council and assisted in drafting 2 more - I covered 8 out of the 9!  The questions ranged over the Gypsy & Traveller site consultation exercise, environmentally sustainable practices by the new Council, proper support for all members whatever their backgrounds and whatever their other roles and responsibilities, principles for amalgamating our constituent council services and the role of Scrutiny.

I caused controversy by suggesting that members should only receive allowances for email and internet access and use if they actually use these services - we have a big issue regarding unnecessary paper based communications - think of the money that could be saved by proper use of email and the internet and the corresponding environmental benefits.

It got worse when I suggested that the County Council scheme which we are adopting on an interim basis positively encouraged the use of larger vehicles - you get 36% more by way of allowances if you use a car with an engine size of 1200cc or more than one under 999cc.   I suggested that there should be only one mileage rate based on the small car figure.  The Inland Revenue judges any mileage payment above 40ppm to involve a profit element - and tax it accordingly. Even the small car rate triggers this tax take.

Having stirred this controversy there appears to be increasing recognition that something needs to be done about it.  Ironically a County Councillor told me that the County Scheme was improved when they dispensed with bands recompensing cars over 2000cc!  With a 36% differential between the bottom and the top bands now -(999c-1200cc) what were they paying out for people driving Jags and Bentleys!  To my mind this was wrong in principle and remains wrong in principle now.

The Members should set the example and take a lead in this area.

30 July 2008 Castle Park Executive Trust

A short meeting - I pushed for joined up thinking regarding cycle provision in Frodsham taking account of the lottery funding for the park and the redevelopment of the High School site.

30 July 2008 - Vale Royal Gypsy & Travellers Site consultation

I've tabled some searching questions of Vale Royal regarding the Gypsy & Travellers site consultation.  If you wanted an object lesson in how not to perform  on open and transparent consultation exercise this appears to be it.

29 July 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Shadow Authority

I've tabled 6 questions for consideration by the Leader and Executive for Thursday night - watch this space!

28 July 2008 - Frodsham Town Council - Council Meeting

Not the happiest of meetings.  I fear the worst side of local government emerged - with the apperance of putting procedure before people.  FTC managed to become the object of criticism for the way in which the consultation exercise regarding the Gypsy & Travellers Site issues are being mishandled by Vale Royal.  I had tabled the item on the agenda for full discussion - but it did not happen.

I also raised the provision of First Aid in Frodsham.  I've just done a day long first aid course and was told that, for an adult, you have a 4% chance of being recovered if you collapse if one of the following 3 is missing - first aider, emergency services on the scene within 10-15 mins and a defibrilator.  FTC has limited resources - but this is something we could take a lead on locally.

FTC has a tradition of naming trees or planting trees in commemoration of deceased Councillors.  I'm hoping I'm not going to die anytime soon - but I've asked for a defibrilator rather than a tree!

24 July 2008 - Vale Royal - Full Council - Griffiths Park, Northwich Planning Applications

Vale Royal has changed its planning decision making processes to allow larger or more controvertial planning applications to be determined by the Full Council.  The Griffiths Park scheme for 360+ houses and a retirement village came before us as a full Council.  I do appreciate the highways concerns - but overwhelmingly this scheme to redevelop the site of a former ICI Chemical works is a good thing.  The Council passed the scheme overwhelmingly.

I spoke on the application raising the importance of designing in sustainability in terms of environmental efficiencies in terms of materials used and to limit the energy needs.  I also stressed the need to ensure effective waste minimisation arrangements for the intended householders and for effective re-use and recycling there.  This was supported by the developer's representative and, if I read the meeting right, was adopted!

24 July 2008 - Vale Royal - Every Child Matters Panel

We had an excellent presentation from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - CAMHS.  We learnt where the gaps in service existed and how CAMHS has in recent years been able to transform itself from a service with significant waiting list issues (would you wait 18 months for mental health services for a child?) to something much more effective now.  I've left an open door for CAMHS at Cheshire West & Chester for them to raise anything that may need challenging or streamlining going forward.

23 July 2008 - Vale Royal Gypsy & Travellers Consultation

The Consultation exercise has started - and remains open between now and October 2008.  If you are interested - please write into Vale Royal or use the Council's web site www.valeroyal.gov.uk to register your views.

18 July 2008 Cheshire West & Chester Environment Policy Development Board

Just occasionally local government frustrates me beyond measure.  This was one of those days.  This Policy Development Board has issues such as environment (with all the questions of waste management and disposal), highways, planning, building control etc within its purview.  As a group of Cllrs there are 7 of us charged with developing policy.  However the desire appeared to be more to allow existing arrangements to be carried forward with little thought.  Cllr Lynn Riley and I challenged this "status quo" mentality.  This meeting - at 2pm on a Friday afternoon is typical of many at CW&C which are not worker friendly.  I have asked for there to be a serious investigation into allowing meetings to work supported by web-technologies.  Let me and others stay at work and appear by video conference readily available through our Council computers and a broadband connection!

I must say I left this meeting fulminating!

17 July 2008 Frodsham Community Association

I've promised to help organise the bonfire event this year and act as liason with the Town Council.  We met to discuss this - and agreed to meet again shortly.  I provided FCA with the lates HSE guidance documents to assit in the process.

10 July 2008 - Cheshire West Performance & Capacity Scrutiny.

This is a small team of 3 of us charged with the task of looking into the P&C portion of Cheshire West & Chester.  We met to plan how we should proceed.  Whilst I've not checked - I suspect this is one of the few, if not the only panel or committee on CW&C with an opposition Chairman - and I invited it deliberately in my role as Chairman of Scrutiny!  Start the way you mean to go on!

5 July 2008 - Frodsham Marshes

You either love, ignore or abuse the marshes.  For many of us the marshes are a wonderful wilderness on our doorstep - fantastic for bird watching, cycling, some huntin' shootin' & fishin', flying model aircraft and the occasional walker.  However these community activities are threatened by the selfish and the criminal.  I cycle around the marshes regularly.  Virtually on each occasion I come across flytipping.  We even appear to have had an entire forest of leylandii dumped there recently.  The marshes are under surveillance by CCTV and officers from Vale Royal and the Environment Agency so hopefully it won't be long before these selfish environmental criminals are caught.

The state of the highways is poor and deteriorating on the Marshes.  I've flagged this up with the County Council - who, guess what, don't have enough money to carry out the necessary works.  We may get something done.

People living near the marshes have complained to me about vehicle movements and noise at antisocial times like 4am.  I've passed this matter on to the authorities too.  I'm told we may get some signage discouraging the larger vehicles using the lanes - which are supposedly restricted by-ways - which means casual use by vehicles is not permitted although vehicle use is more common there than it should be!

4 July 2008 - Liverpool Airport Consultative Committee

I've been asked to take up Vale Royal's position on this Committee in the lead up to Vale Royal's abolition on 31 March 2009.  This was my first of what may be no more than 3 meetings.  It was an interesting experience.  The airport officers presented a very positive case for the airport and explained how enhanced services for disabled passengers will be provided.  It was disappointing, but I suppose expectd, to hear how the services will have to be policed and managed so as to deter those who might otherwise abuse them.  The risk is, of course that those that might benefit may be put off seeking to use them.  We all know of people who would rather be independent rather than ask for help.

The Committee presents data on complaints received.  The data has to be presented with and without a vociferous complainer so as to attempt a balanced view on what is truly happening.  The airport's activities do create noise - but is the noise an issue in the context of the M56 noise?  I have asked the airport to provide more data to me on the noise contribution to our locale.

There is an interesting conundrum.  Cheshire County Council presently provides the Secretariat for the Committee - the airport is, of course, in the Liverpool City Council area.  Should this responsibility be taken on Cheshire West & Chester?

2 July 2008 Cheshire  West & Chester - Scrutiny Committee

We've got the Scrutiny Committee underway.   For my sins, or because I ask awkward questions I'm the Chairman.  In our early days and no doubt whilst the Authority is in its shadow phase we will concentrate more on testing what the Executive is doing than examining things further afield.  Well conducted scrutiny could potentially do much to demonstrate how worthwhile local government is.  Personally I want as many people as possible from as many different backgrounds as possible to participate.

27 June 2008 Cheshire West & Chester - Logo Panel

We were presented with 5 designs of supposedly modern fresh ideas for the new Council. logo.  Of the 5 - 4 could be described as nothing special - and the 5th was simply the best of an unispiring lot.  Interestingly it was the big-wigs of the JIT* who set the brief for the designs which were rejected unanimously.  The panel agreed with the need for something modern and effective - but also something which evokes our common Cheshire history.  If you think of Cheshire - whether West or East or bits in between the common link for all of us is the ancient blue shield with the 3 wheat sheaves.  We've suggested the panel comes back with fresh designs evoking our history.  The wheat sheaves have been associated with Cheshire since the late 1100s - so we don't need to loose them after 900 years.

Our ancient county has a unique armorial heritage which does not need to be consigned to the dust bin of history just yet!

* JIT = Joint Implementation Team the leaders of the political parties from each of the constituent authorities that came together prior to the CWC elections.  Many of them were not elected to CWC!

26 June 2008 Vale Royal Borough Council - Full Council

I tabled a question on the issue of publicity regarding the Gypsy & Travellers site consultation.  Both the Leader of the Council and the lead officer for the issue apologised over the way in which the news broke regarding the consultation exercise.

The Council meeting was notable for several hypocritical speeches from the Labour benches - for example the former Mayor of Frodsham and his colleagues speaking out against preserving a Mayorality for the Vale Royal portion of Cheshire West & Chester.  The existing Lord Mayorality for Chester and the Mayors of Ellesmere Port & Neston and for Vale Royal will lapse without arrangements being made to preserve them.  Chester wants to keep its Lord Mayor - and it is understood that the Lord Mayor of Chester's area won't be extended to Ellesmere Port & Vale Royal.  So its either preserve the existing civic arrangements or have none.  The Mayor of Vale Royal fulfills around 500 engagements a year in the Borough.  So Labour were after denuding us of our civic pride and representations.  Same old Labour and their habits of cultural vandalism.

Labour also winged about representing the people - however their record of attendance at Council meetings and committees is dwindling - perhaps to a greater extent than the other parties.  This is something I will check.

25 June 2008 Weaver Vale Conservative Association

After such fantastic election results in May 2008 this was our first Executive meeting.  We are modernising and preparing for having a Conservative MP whenever Gordon Brown decides to call the election.  Watch out Mike Hall - we're after your job!

23 June 2008 - Frodsham Town Council Meeting

So is Frodsham Town Council a-political - or is it dominated by silent politics - or as I put it at the meeting the elephant in the room that no-one mentions?  In 2007 we missed out on elections as there were only 16 candidates for 16 vacancies - however many if not the majority of the candidates have obvious political links - such as having stood for local elections on a party platform.  This issue came to the fore as the Council co-opted 2 new members to fill vacancies.  There were 3 candidates 2 who were acknowledged Labour party members, and my colleague Conservative Cllr on Vale Royal and Cheshire West & Chester Mark Ingram.

Notwithstanding protestations from Labour who claimed in the meeting that they were a-political at FTC they voted en bloc for the Labour candidates.  I challenged them that if they were a-political they would co-opt Cllr Mark Ingram, as he, like me has the strongest electoral mandate having been elected in 2007 to Vale Royal and 2008 to Cheshire West & Chester.

You can see my press release about the "Alice in Wonderland" antics here.

22 June 2008 Vale Royal Borough Council - Gypsy & Travellers Site Consultation

I'm very concerned about the way in which news of this consultation exercise emerged - so much so that I've tabled this question to be answered at the Council meeting on Thursday.

Question to the Leader of the Council:

In relation to the recent decision to embark upon a public consultation exercise in relation to 4 potential Gypsy/Travellers Sites in the Borough -

what consideration and deliberation was given to the effect of the announcement of the anticipated decision upon:
(i) the landowners of those sites; and,
(ii) the neighbouring residents, business, and other establishments (including schools) to those sites 
where none of them had been given any prior warning before the matter entered the public domain?

Notes to the question not forming part of the question but designed to assist those responding and anticipating my supplementary question:

I understand that no landowner/neighbouring resident/business to the Ship Street site in Frodsham (and potentially the other 3 sites) was contacted by the Council either before or after the decision was taken to embark upon the public consultation exercise. The news of the decision therefore reached the community and ultimately the landowners in a sporadic and unmanaged way allowing rumour and wrong information to circulate. I am aware of accounts of at least one landowner being accosted and accused by ill-informed locals of him having sold his land to the Gypsies/Travellers. He was dumbfounded by the news and was not in a position to provide any form or answer or explanation. There could have been a threat to his safety and/or public order as a consequence - bearing in mind that the placing of such a site in an existing settled community is likely to prove highly controversial and debates about such an issue will provoke expression of such controversy.

Linked to this is the question of the public consultation exercise itself. As I understand matters the nature of the exercise has not been finally determined, nor announcements made about how the community can express views to the Council. Again bearing in mind the controversial nature of such a decision and the predictable desire of the community to express its views straightway this would have been wise in my view as an unsatisfactory state of limbo has been created with the inevitable public unease. I am looking for assurances that proper consideration will be given to ensuring that everyone is properly informed about the consultation exercise directly by the Council itself and that those most immediately affected - such as the landowners and neighbours etc will receive direct written communication from the Council explaining the background to the consultation exercise, how they can express their views to the Council and not have to rely on newspaper reports or advertisements or the local rumour mill.

19 June 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester - waste management briefing

This was a fascinating briefing considering the waste collection and waste disposal options for the new Council.  The importance of these services and the costs of providing them are staggering.  It is good to see the some erious thought is being given to these questions at this early stage.

18 June 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Area Meeeting

Mr Collins from Cheshire County Council briefed the meeting on the problems of our household waste collection site at the Station.  This site has existed on a temporary planning permission which is due for renewal next year.  The permission is "temporary" as it is accepted that the site is less than ideal - albeit extremely convenient for all of us locally.  Mr Collins explained how the various attempts at finding a new site around Frodsham have foundered - principally because planning inspectors refuse to permit sites to be allocated for this purpose on the outskirts of Frodsham near the railway viaduct which lie in the green belt - even though they are "brownfield" sites.  If the Frodsham site closes we will have to face trips to Ellesmere Port, Northwich or Halton to dispose of our waste.  I think the time has come to have a very serious look at the green belt around Frodsham.  Is the green belt unreasonably strangling us?  Can elements of it be reviewed such as along the railway line on the north east side?  I know there would be little support for relaxing the green belt between Frodsham & Helsby.

The meeting also received a briefing from Mr Ellison - Head of Planning from Vale Royal about the consultation exercise that is about to start regarding the Travellers sites in the Borough.  Please see the Campaign page for more information.

3 June 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester political planning meeting

A fascinating meeting seeking to lay the foundations for the new Council - what should the Council's vision be?  This is very challenging work - and a once in a generation opportunity to set up a new Council. 

24 - 31 May 2008 Holiday

I needed this holiday - even though the weather was dreadful.  Now holidays for me normally mean mobile phones and emails access.  However we went to Pembrokeshire and found ourselves cut off from all modern inconveniences - we couldn't even get digital TV!  Bliss! After all the stresses of electioneering being totally cut off was absolutely delightful!

22 May 2008 - Cheshire Brine Subsidence Board, CWC Scrutiny, Every Child Matters, Community Scruntiny

A typical day in local government - meetings from 9am to 9pm on a range of issues from land subsidence, to children's issues, setting up the planning for Cheshire West's scrutiny arrangements and then Community Scrutiny.  A heavy hard but ultimately rewarding.

17 May 2008 - Campaigning in Crewe & Nantwich

As is evident from reading the press the Conservatives are putting a big push on to try and win the Crewe & Nantwich by-election.  I went to help them today.  It was humbling on several levels - ranging from the warmth of the welcome on the streets for the Conservatives, through to the sheer numbers of volunteers from all over the country who were helping out.  It will be absolutely wonderful if we can overturn this 7500 majority for Labour which, of course would bode well for us here in Weaver Vale. 

16 May 2008 - Ince Incinerator Inquiry

With my FTC hat on I gave evidence to the Inquiry with Cllr O'Neill and Cllr Cowper.  We followed Mike Hall MP.  As it turned out we were giving similar evidence - I didn't copy from him - did he copy from me?  That said I was prepared to put the public health evidence I gave (which I had taken through scrutiny at Vale Royal Borough Council) in its proper context.  Mike Hall MP, on the other hand put accross his views stridently but without qualification.  His cross examination revealed how that he may have pushed the position beyond the tenable.

I think the 3 of us did a decent job at representing the Parish & Town Councils - certainly we put the oposition accross of the locals in a cogent and coherent fashion. 

15 May 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Shadow Authority

Our first formal meeting of the Shadow Authority - held at Chester Town Hall.  I enjoy historic moments - and the Victorian splendour of Chester Town Hall was fantastic.  I spoke at the inaugural meeting - however as it was on a Part B (ie an item in private) item I can't discuss it in public!  We then had the typical group photograph - with the usual hilarity of how many Cllrs does it take to stand as a group.  The answer (if you are a Lib Dem Cllr) is no matter how much you try you can't!  To call in matters under the new constitution you have to have 7 Cllrs - a bit difficult for the 4 Lib Dems!

And talking of being a bit mean to the Lib Dems you couldn't make it up.  The sign at the Town Hall pointing to the Lib Dem meeting room was swiftly followed by the sign to the gents ... they don't need much space obviously!

12 May 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Conservative Caucus Meeting

Frodsham Town Council annual meeting

Perhaps the signs of things to come - I was double booked.  Ideally I wanted to be at both FTC annual meeting to welcome our new Mayor Cllr Pammi Taylor and attend the first CWC Conservative party caucus meeting.  I chose CWC over FTC - but I did get back to Frodsham for a celebratory diet coke with FTC!

The caucus meeting was interesting - but more of the upshot after Thursday's shadow Council meeting.

9 May 2008 - Cheshire West & Chester Council - training day

A day for the new Cllrs to get to know each other and begin the process of establishing a new Council that genuinely seeks to deliver quality services to its people.  I do trust the turns out to be reality rather than hot air!  Years ago I did my legal training at Chester City Council - 20 years on I met some of my old colleagues.  But who had aged better... it was a toss up as to who had less hair and who had gained more weight!

8 May 2008 -Vale Royal Borough Council - Annual Council

Quite a sad day in many ways - the last Annual Council for Vale Royal.  We had the usual civic ceremony and change of Mayor.  Cllr Doug Shingler the retiring Mayor and Mayoress Pam have conducted themselves and represented Vale Royal with great dignity.  In a quiet moment after the meeting I added my congratulations.  Doug has been everything a Mayor should be.  He will be a very hard act to follow.

On a very different note I heard reports of political insults being hurled in my direction for the first time.  Of course it could be I have just been deaf and not picked them up over the past year.  The reality however is almost certainly linked to the high profile role I took on in facing down rebels from the party.  Ah well - what price loyalty?  I've certainly learnt the value of a £25 subscription to the party for membership.

7 May 2008 - Frodsham Town Council - Annual Meeting

A good attendance by the press and public - but only 8 of the Cllrs attended.  Cllr Lynn Riley and I had to dash from the Conservative Caucus meeting to the Community Centre.  I arrived 20 mins late - but I felt it was important to be there - unlike many others such as both Cllr Lloyds, Cllr Greggs, Cllr Shearn and Cllr Pennington.  I have no idea why the couldn't attend - but there is only one Annual meeting.

I hope and pray we can persuade others to join FTC.

7 May 2008 - Conservative caucus - Cheshire West & Chester Council

All 55 CW&C Conservative Councillors met at Castle Park tonight - and all of us attended!  We've elected our new leader - Cllr Mike Jones who represents Broxton on the shadow authority.  It was heartening to hear all of us speak with a common purpose and a desire to see CWC be the effective Council we all believe it needs to be to provide the services our electorate demands.

2 May 2008 - the count

Wow - we won.  Well actually we didn't just win, we effectively cleared the board in Frodsham & Helsby, in the Vale Royal area and wonderfully for over the new Cheshire West & Chester area.

The result saw Les, Mark and I take around 2200 votes each (see the home page for the full result) with Cllr Brian Lloyd - our nearest opponent take around 1300 votes.  All 3 of the Conservative candidates got elected.  We won in Frodsham & Helsby with an increased turnout over 2007.  We have won a landslide victory in the new Council - gaining 53 of 72 seats.

 I'm knackered having been up at 5:30am to remove our signs from the A56.

Wow!!!!

1 May 2008 - election day

A hectic day meeting and greeting and encoraging people to vote.  I'm happy to say that everything I heard on the campaign trail has been positive.  I'm concerned that turnout may be down - but its hard to tell and you never know just how many postal votes there are!  Fingers crossed.  I'm glad we are not counting tonight - happy to go to bed not knowing what may happen!

26 April 2008 - on the campaign trail

A busy day campaigning and canvassing.  It is both heartwarming and humbling on the doorstep with so many people wishing me and the party well in the forthcomming election.  A group of us put up a large campaign poster on the A56 near the Netherton - and just at that moment a lady came by- stopped her car and asked for help.  She'd kerbed her car and had torn a hole in a tyre.  You could see the hole and hear the air escape!

Well what could a campaigning Councillor do - I dropped everything and changed her tyre for her.  Naturally I encouraged her to vote appropriately.  My persuasion was all in vain on two counts.  First she lives in the adjacent ward of Weaver.  Second she had already voted by post!  Good news though - she has voted Conservative and told me she and her husband would never vote Labour again.

I looked in on FTC's cemetery.  We have an item on FTC's agenda on Monday to do with the regualtions. 

24 April 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Full Council

An interesting meeting.  We had the external auditors reporting to us on the Council's performance.  It was a pleasure to listen to an auditor praise the Conservative controlled Council's stewardship and financial management.  The auditor pointed out the Vale Royal is amongst the best run Councils in the country.

This was the last Council meeting of this municipal year - the penultimate year of Vale Roya is drawing to a close.  Many annual reports were presented - most were accepted on the nod.  The only real debate came about the Scrutiny Board's report.  This report is under the control of the opposition but is about the scrutiny work which is chaired by the Conservatives.  There were complaints that the Scrutiny Board had not liased with the Scruntiny Committee Chairmen when producing the report.  As opposition Councillors scrutiny is the most important thing for them to do on the Council - interesting isn't it - that they weren't able even to do this without questions being raised about how well they'd done it!

You may have seen press reports about the Weaverham Independents - former Conservative Cllrs who have left the party.  It was interesting watching them spend their time talking to Labour Councillors... do they have no shame!

21 April 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Employment Appeal

We reconvened the employment appeal and finally reached a verdict after having spent 14.5 hours in total on the matter.  It was a very difficult case to deal with.  When it was all over one of the Councillors who had been on the panel with me shook me by the hand and thanked me for the way I'd chaired the hearing.  It was a nice gesture - and it is reassuring that your efforts at trying to be fair to all were appreciated.

17 April 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Employment Appeal

Five Councillors spent more than 12 hours considering an appeal against dismissal - and we still haven't concluded our deliberations.  We started at about 9:30am and adjourned at 10:00pm to reconvene on Tuesday next week.   I was on the panel with Cllr Lloyd - we are candidates in Frodsham & Helsby.  We consoled ourselves that neither of us could canvass!

16 April 2008 - Castle Park Executive

I'm increasingly surprised by the apparent denial of many that Vale Royal will be disappearing on 1 April 2009 - in local government terms this is a mere scintilla away.   If we want to plan maximise local control over local assets now is the time to do it!  Far too much gets deferred for later - and I'm troubled by short reports that barely scratch the surface.  So we could act now to ensure the Top Field at Castle Park is properly protected - or we could trust to whatever the new political landscape will be going forward?  Guess what happened!

12 April 2008 - Campaigning for the Cheshire West & Chester elections

The weather isn't the best for campaigning - so my best friends are my jacket, my gloves and my ipod!

6 April 2008 - Campaigning for the Cheshire West & Chester elections

With the nominations in the campaign is under way - I do enjoy walking the streets talking to people - and its great to see the support we have. We're going for a positive campaign - after all we have a great record in terms of stewardship of Vale Royal to demonstrate what a Conservative administration can do.  Lets not forget the last budget at Vale Royal with its low Council tax rise, its balanced income and expenditure with a prudent level of resources was not opposed by either the Lib Dems or Labour - you see even they recognise we've got it right!

3 April 2008 Walking the streets of Frodsham

Guess what - I was walking the streets late at night and came across a drunk relieving himself in the street as if it was the normal thing to do!  Why can't we have the mobile cleaning team that North Wales Police have - it would soon discourage this sort of thing!

26 March 2008 Weaver Vale Conservative Constituency Association

The fools - they've made me Chairman!  The rise of the middle of the road Tory is at hand!

26 March 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Every Child Matters

This was a fascinating meeting with Dave Snasdell from Cheshire police.  We ranged over many things including young people and alcohol, CRB checks for Cllrs, and the crime statistics in Vale Royal.  This latter debate highlighted the weaknesses in this government's fixation with targets - and in crime terms that means moving from crime numbers, to crime detection, sanctions and disposals.  It was interesting to hear a debate where a police officer pondered whether we were needlessly criminalising some youngsters for a single one-off minor matter that will show up on their records for ever - just so a police force could show detections, sanctions and disposals. Certainly if Cheshire Police were acting in this way I would have something very strong to say about it.

If you are looking for clear blue water with Labour - how about we are strong on the economy and liberal socially - the opposite of Labour who are now reaping the effects of the credit bubble they caused as we all take a prolonged economic hangover - and the needless criminalisation and marginalisation of part of our society supposedly based on intiatives targetting the lawless few.  Too many not bad ones are suffering at the moment and I'm not convinced we are tackling the thoroughly bad effectively enough.

25 March 2008 - FTC Full Council meeting

Do you some times feel you have had enough - you know fed up with manoeuvring or nodding winks by others simply trying to score political advantage because they are bereft of their own ideas and just want to steal others.  I saw plenty of this sort of behaviour - and winking across the Council table tonight. I trust the electorate can distinguish between posturing politicians who are long on talk and short on action and those, like I try to be, someone who actually delivers.

I've been banging on about highway safety for ages and witnessed the Labour mob seek to claim it as their own.  Well some facts for you - the Labour government has so cut Cheshire County Council's funds that they cannot even afford to repair the roads with structural defects.  So if they are in this state no matter who bleats to the County for what they are unlikley to be able to deliver.

But - the Town Council does have highways powers of its own - which can be exercised with the consent of the County Council.  So rather than join the bleating I've tabled a discussion on highway powers and what FTC can do for the April meeting.   As a community we don't have to accept lowest-common denominator highways if we are prepared to pay for them and the County approve of what we want to do.

Time for action - not words! 

20 March 208 - Review of Leisure provision for Frodsham and the surrounding area

Hints of what is to come with a meeting with VRBC & CCC officers with the local Cllrs discussing what we need locally by way of leisure provision going forward.  It is good to have strategic meetings such as these from time to time - providing of course they achieve things and the officers seek to implement what is desired!  I had to chase the officers regarding apparent commitments made to me regarding the layout of Castle Park - given last September.  Its just as well I keep notes isn't it!

11 March 2008 - Crowmere Working Party - FTC's Charities

In my professional career as a lawyer I often come across businesses that have outgrown their administrative resources - very much akin to a teenager suddenly shooting upwards but still having the mind of a youngster.  I do wonder whether FTC is in that position - has the Council expanded to a position where it is not able to support its own arrangements?  As a small Town Council we have 3 charities, around 20 plots of land as well as all the other paraphanalia associated with a local authority.  Our monthly meetings last around 3 hours and we end up rushing the more important parts on the agenda which include the charities.

The charities appear to be an historic legacy - the working party is looking at the issue and has established a broad consensus that we should simplify our arrangements - alleluia!

8 March 2008 - Pulmonary Hypertension - and the denial of drugs

Graham Evans our PPC and I met one of local residents who suffers from pulmonary hypertension.  This life threatening, terminal condition that can affect anyone and at anytime of their lives.  Drug treatment that can prolong life, and importantly can maintain a good quality of life is set to be denied NHS patients by NICE on the basis that it is not cost effective - the patients are all going to die.  The first drug used to treat the condition once diagnosed is actually viagra!  There must be something wrong with our government if it is prepared to pay for viagra to be prescribed to aid a nice-to-have but non-essential sex life as opposed to supporting life for the terminally ill.  This is a typical accountancy trick from a bankrupt government that knows the cost of everything - but the value of nothing.  If you want to learn more about the condition go to www.pha-uk.co.uk .  Personally I consider this is a breach of covenant the government has made to the people.  NHS - covering you from cradle to the grave - clearly not under Labour that will see treatment denied to those who need it most simply on the basis of cost. 

6 March 2008 - Community Scrutiny Committee and Every Child Matters

At Every Child Matters we had an excellent meeting with the Youth Offending Team from mid-Cheshire.  It was an honour and a privilege to hear from a committed team anxious to reduce offending amongst the young people of Vale Royal.  We heard that the YOT cannot understand why 40% of young offenders in Cheshire come from Vale Royal!  There is some suggestion that this may be a statistical problem to do with the reporting of offences being solved as opposed to suggesting that Vale Royal's youth are more criminal than elsewhere in Cheshire.

After such an enervating and uplifting meeting we had Cheshire Highways presenting.  Perhaps they could never win - as all of us have a view about the state of the roads!  I was horrified to learn the Labour government has cut the funding for Cheshire's roads by 11% and that the County does not have enough money even to repair structural failures in our roads, let alone the cosmetic damage.  Much of what I heard truly annoyed me and reinforced my view that the County has become divorced from the local people and what they see as important.  I raised safe routes for school children and the fact that virtually all of Frodsham's secondary school children will be going to Helsby High along the de-restricted speed limited A56 from September 2009.  There does not appear to have been any planning for Frodsham school children.  I have raised the Howey Lane / A56 / Carriage Drive / Netherton crossing and the need to do something.  I was met with stoney silence about road improvements and a suggestion that not all of the children at Frodsham High School come from Frodsham... and that point was what exactly!!

What the meeting did not know at the start is that I am a former Highways Lawyer.  I was not prepared to accept that casual suggestion made by the County's represntatives that everything was down to bad planning (ie Vale Royal's remit) when the County as Highway Authority signs agreements called s278 agreements with developers accepting the specification and standards for new roads.

If I get elected to the new Council I can see some interesting battles with highways.  I do not accept their lowest common denominator approach to our roads.  Apparently Fluin Lane is the second safest B Road in the County.  Tell that to the local residents!

Community Scrutiny meeting was quiet after all this excitement - but we did have to shelve further digging into the lamentable state of cycling routes in Vale Royal - one of the first casualties of local government reorganisation. 

5 March 2008 - Environment Scrutiny

We had a presentation from the Health Protection Agencies Dr Stewart.  We looked at the death and disease rates for Vale Royal and the surrounding areas.  Interesting stuff.  By and large we are a reasonably healthy lot!

I've asked that Vale Royal give active consideration to formally registering areas of land within the Borough and its ownership as Commons or Village Greens where locals have been enjoying informal sport and recreation for at least 20 consecutive years.  If that has happened public rights to use the land will have been created and the registration process will give recognition to those rights.

29 February 2008 - Helsby Community Centre Quiz Night

We had a fantastic evening's entertainment.  Wonderful food, wonderful company and an entertaining quiz master - thanks Mae. 

28 February 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Full Council meeting

Setting the Council Tax.  The budget meeting passed swiftly and with little opposition.  The modest 3% rise in Council Tax was accepted by what seemed like everyone.  Even Labour acknowledged how well the officially excellent Vale Royal is doing under Conservative stewardship:  "Nobody doubts that the delivery of our services are very very good." Cllr Arthur Nield - Labour.

In many ways it is sad Vale Royal is to disappear - we are an excellent debt free Council - if only the same could be said of those authorities we are to merge with by 1 April 2009.  Incidentally the Police Authority have put up their portion of the Council tax by 17%.  They say they are unfairly treated by the Government and do not receive a sufficient grant to support their work - hence having to claim more from the Council tax payer to make up the difference.  Why does Labour hate Cheshire so much - our schools are underfunded too for exactly the same reason.

25 February 2008 - Frodsham Town Council - Full Council meeting

We are getting a new, additional fire engine in Frodsham to serve alongside the existing equipment.  Cheshire Fire Service made a presentation to the Town Council showing off their new midi-appliance.  This very capable bit of kit uses the new Compressed Air Foam System - CAFS - or fighting fires.  We saw very impressive video of a barn fire and a fire in a static van being totally extinguished in 20-30 seconds.  This new kit will also mean that Frodsham fire station will be operational more of the time.

The Town Council meeting proper lasted nearly 3 hours.  It was conducted in a good spirit - perhaps because there were only 7 of us there!  We've set up a task group to look into what FTC really should be doing.

23 February 2008 - Selection of the Candidates for West Cheshire & Chester shadow

We've had the selection meeting to choose who will stand as the Conservative candidates for the Frodsham & Helsby ward for the new shadow authority.  We had a good turn out of party members at the meeting - its always good to see the membership caring about who will represent the party going forward.

21 February 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Every Child Matters

This was a very informative meeting centred around the principles of "Here by rights" - national policy which seeks to reform the mindset and policies of all public services and make them more relevant and aware of the needs of children and younger adults.  Even though Vale Royal has only just over a year's worth of life left we are determined to keep up the good work in the hope that we will be able to influence the culture of the successor West Cheshire & Chester authority.  I also had a very informative informal discussion wth members from other parties about the Northwich-Winsford axis in Vale Royal which does on occasion seem to exclude the "Northern Territories" of Frodsham and Helsby.  The point was made to me that the delivery of good services in Frodsham, Helsby and elsewhere is dependant upon having good vocal local Cllrs who are prepared to challenge this axis.  The implication being that we've not been well served in Frodsham for years - but then I knew that anyway!  But it is reassuring to hear that articulated from opposition Cllrs who had no reason to flatter me!

Following a discussion about first time entrants into crime - I've asked for the crime figures for Frodsham North to be analysed in detail.  As I've mentioned before I want to be sure that the data is not hiding a discreet intense problem.

Speaking as the only Vale Royal Cllr for Frodsham North who lives in Frodsham North my personal experience of crime on a daily basis in the ward makes me wonder whether the problems are very localised.  If I'm right we owe it to all of our law abiding neighbours throughout the whole of Frodsham to do what we can to stop it.

20 February 2008 - Vale Royal Borough Council - Area Meeting

This was a well attended meeting where we heard presentations from the PCT about plans for the health centre, infection control at the Countess of Chester Hospital and priorities for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.  Even though Cllrs were asked to stay quiet some still had to make interjections!  Same old suspects too!

I'm beginning to lose count of the number of people who've been handing me the MP's invite to chat.  It would have been nice if Uncle Mike had invited me personally.  As the Cllr that has been raising issues of deprivation, unfairness and inequality that make some of our fellow citizens' lives more difficult I might have been able to assist him.

But then perhaps Uncle Mike is trying to bolster the under performing Labour Cllrs? 

PS Does anyone want to stand for the Lib Dems... I hear they are struggling to find candidates!  One cynical observer said to me they'd take anyone with a pulse!  I think that's a might unfair.  As the Town Council proves there are all too few people volunteering for local politics.  We need to encourage everyone to participate - even the Lib Dems. Come on guys stand!

17 February 2008 - Chester Chronicle (Frodsham & Helsby edition)

Now I don't pretend to understand journalism or the timing of articles.  There was a very interesting article picking up on my comments made at FTC on 18 January - reassuringly quoting the facts I had researched too - and picking up that the Labour Cllrs accept that I'm right that FTC needs to review what it does and why.

Now John Maddock, the Mayor of FTC believes whatever I may suggest will cost money.  Nope, not necessarily. 

By the way I'm intrigued by FTC's Marshlands project.  I'd be interested to hear views about it.