Archive for February, 2010
Budget time for Wirral. But who will produce it?
21st February 2010
Each year at this time the three political parties should present a budget to Council to let the public know what they propose for the year ahead.
The Labour Group of Councillors always proposes a detailed, closely costed, budget. It is exceptional for the other two parties to produce anything remotely to the same high standard; it is easier for them to look at what Labour proposes and then put in amendments than to doing the spade work in the first place. But leaving Labour to do the real work – and then carping from the sidelines is so much easier than getting to grips with the issues in the first place.
In the week ahead all of the material will come into the public view – but it will be late before the public see the amendments that the other parties put to Labour’s.
We hope our readers will watch with interest.
John, left and Adrian, right, have high hopes for some inter-party co-operation at a time of world wide financial crisis. But on past experience that is perhaps a lot to hope for. Watch this space. There’ll be a full report.
TRANSFORMATION OF ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES – RESIDENTIAL AND NURSING HOME CARE – CONTRACTED SUPPORT
19th February – 6.00pm – a resident offers a view
A Seacombe resident with years of experience observed Monday’s Council meeting and sent these comments. ( The comments are not intended to reflect Labour Party policy and are printed as a contribution to a necessary public debate.)
Hi Adrian, I attended the council meeting on Monday 15th February 2010 & Just thought this link would be of interest.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8520800.stm
I would also like to pass on my thoughts with regards to one of the issues raised at the meeting.
I agree with the council’s current proposals to terminate current contracts & asking the private care providers to tender for new contracts. From my past experience working within the private care sector (working from care assistant to a qualified manager) any increase given by the local authority, is very rarely passed on in wage increases to the staff who areoften on minimum wage.
Increases of rates often merely increase the profits of the owners or subsidises the fact that many care home beds are often empty.
The conservative view that without increases or changes in the current contracts it would result in deteriorating conditions is flawed. I am sure you are aware that the care establishments have to meet minimum legal staffing levels as well as being assessed on a regular basis to meet minimum requirements.
I agree that if all beds are not full in any one establishment it is not fulfilling its full potential with regards to its profit & staffing levels, but the public purse cannot continue to subsidise & support private businesses who are not trying to adapt to demand.
After dealing with many authorities across the country with regards to the funding of clients within the care establishments I have worked in, I can also state that wirral pays higher rates than many others.
While I can accept that there will always be a need for institutional care, the demand for such care is dropping with the development & advances in medical science & personal assistance technology.
Respite care is something that has not been invested in by the private sector & while this will be a high turnover of clients, there would never be a shortage & would release valuable beds & resources that would otherwise be provided by the NHS.
Community care is most definitely the way forward, but my personal opinion from experience this type of care, is that is not monitored & regulated very well & often leads to failure of service provision, neglect & many forms abuse.
Day care centres are by far one of my personally favourite options, I have been to many centres that provide the many resources that institutional care can provide like: care, assistance with washing & bathing, monitoring of health & medication & companionship.
This & more is what day care centres can offer but without the loss of independence & dignity also at a fraction of the cost of permanent institutional care.
We have an ageing population that needs & deserves the best services available. Staying at home for as long as possible will maintain the highest levels of dignity & privacy & undoubtedly be the cheapest but overall best option.
I do hope you do not mind me emailing you with these observations & opinions.
Thank you,
(This resident’s name and address were provided.)
We were delighted to hear this view from somebody with ‘inside’ experience
Does anybody else with ‘hands on’ experience want to contribute?
TORIES IN A TIZZ. NO CHANGE THERE.
Mid day – 19th Fe bruary 2010
ARE TOP TORY TOFFS TOO ‘POSH’ TO SIT ON TRAINS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR WAGES?
Oh dear, ‘TopTory Toff’ Sir Nicholas Winterton doesn’t want to mingle with people who are ‘different’ in standard class rail carraiges according to today’s News.
But just what to they mean by ‘different’? Do these Tories mean the voting public who keep them there and pay their wages?
The newspapers are full of it. Just click onto the link to the ‘Daily Record’ below.
But where do the Wallasey Wannabee Tories stand on this? Our guess is that they’ll wriggle to distance themselves from such outlandish comments.
But …………… err … ask them how they voted when Labour tried to introduce standard class only rail travel for Wirral Councillors. Do they remember what their attitude was then, and how they voted?
If they stay silent shall we remind them?
Morning – 19th February 2010
WOULD SECRET CONSERVATIVE PLANS ‘HALT REGIONAL PROJECTS’ IN LIVERPOOL & MERSEYSIDE?
Well, if the Liverpool Daily Post is correct the Tories do rather seem to be tumbled on this one don’t they?
Please do log onto the link below to see what the crafty monkeys really seem to be up to on the quiet. We know the Wallasey Tories are our most avid readers so let’s see how they can squirm their way out of this one. Are they going to say the ‘Post’ has got it all wrong? Or will they find some form of weasel words to try to make it look as though day is night and black is white? That’s what they’re best at but this looks like a difficult one for them to get out of.
Let’s see what explanations they can come up with!