Posts Tagged ‘John Salter’

Some of our regular readers have expressed curiosity about what a councillor does in a fairly typical week, so here goes for the week past.

John began his week on Monday at 9.30 attending a briefing in Liverpool with the Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority and other personnel; it finished at about 12.30.   Then back home to read through 13 emails and deal with several requests for assistance from residents.  Then on to the Children’s and Young People’s Committee meeting from 6.00 until 8.00

On Tuesday morning, following an invitation to Mersey Waste from the Netherlands Government, John and members from other Merseyside Councils, together with a senior manager from MWDA, arrived at Schipol Airport at 09.00am (UK time), where they were greeted by the Economic Ambassador.  This visit was to gain first hand knowledge of a leading-edge waste transfer station which included a state-of-the-art bio conversion unit.  During the afternoon, the British guests had a presentation on the Dutch Waste policy.  After that they were given a talk on how “Energy from Waste,” is used to supply electricity and heat to the City of Amsterdam. 

But, lest there be doubts,  this was no ‘jolly’ – it was very much a working visit with the British visitors arriving back the same day some twelve hours after leaving Liverpool.  Early to bed!

Wednesday began at 09.30 with a full day at a Licensing 2003 Committee – which finished at 1700.  Then on to a ‘Funds for You’ meeting which I left at 7.00pm – and then home to answer emails and telephone messages.

Thursday – yes, more of the Licensing Committee in which three taxis were inspected and they met a number of prospective taxi drivers.   Home at 4.30pm to pick up the paper work for a 5.30pm meeting attended by  Council Officials and elected Members to discuss the waste strategy for the coming months.   Home at 6.30pm to answer emails and telephone enquiries

Friday, answered Emails and telephone messages, raised petition,

Saturday and Sunday, leafleting in Moreton.

And for Adrian:  Also a very busy week, but still feeling the effects of ‘Man flu’.

Monday:  Ploughed through the weekend’s emails and phone messages.  Then spent time reading up for the evening’s meeting of the ‘Children & Young People’ s Committee in the Town Hall at 6.00pm.  

Tuesday, dealt with emails, phone calls, & case-work during the day and went on to the Anglican Cathedral in the evening for the Merseyside Police Awards ceremony.    This was a wonderful event in which our Wirral Police took a great number of awards (that is reported elsewhere on the website).

Wednesday:  Had to give apologies for absence from the Central Park Committee as one of my sons had a hospital appointment at Arrowe Park after breaking a thumb in one of the more genteel contact sports.  Glad to say he’s not letting a little thing like that slow him down.  Home later to deal with emails and phone calls – then to the ‘Funds for You’ Committee at 6.00pm.  After that, took the rest of the evening off as we had private visitors.

Thursday:  Merseyside Police Authority at 1.30 - and for the afternoon.  Back quickly for an evening address for Councillors by our professional officers at 5.30 followed at 6.00pm by a meeting of the Council Excellence  Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  On from that to a Management Group Meeting of one of Wirral’s local charities on which I serve as a volunteer.

Friday:  Back to the Merseyside Police Authority for an ‘Away Day’ at which aspects of policing during the next several years were discussed in depth with first class presentations by Senior Managers of the Police Authority and Senior Officers of the Police Force.  A taxing and highly informative meeting.  Home before 5.00pm in time to answer emails and phone messages – and then, a bit of home decorating as the house has been sadly neglected in my two years as Deputy Mayor and then Mayor

The weekend will be devoted to more decorating with a few hours off to deliver Labour leaflets.

Next week?  It looks as though it’s going to be busier even than this.

We hope this small note of what Councillors do in a fairly typical week will be of some interest and answer the request made by a number of our regular readers.  

Incidentally since our website changed to its new format we have been delighted to be told how well it is received.  Do please keep on sending us your views.  We do not of course publish or respond to anonymous comments.

On 12th October we showed a picture of LABOUR’s Cllr John Salter at the newly raised fence over a motorway bridge near St Joseph’s.  The safety fence was built following John’s presentation of a petition to Merseytravel, on behalf of residents. 

Strange to say, an almost exactly similar picture was published in the press shortly after with a ‘defected’ Councillor standing in the same spot and claiming the credit!  

‘Cheekie chappie?’   

Meanwhile John is already busy continuing his campaign, on behalf of residents of all parts of our ward, as the letter below shows. 

Let’s hope Merseytravel will be able to make similar safety improvements on all of the other bridges. 

We will keep you informed.

There has been a great clean up operation in Percy Road. Cllr John Salter is seen here with the Team. One delighted resident told John:

"We are really pleased about this clean up operation. There are still one or two blackspots but we all hope this initiative will be encouraging to everybody."

Several other residents commented favourably on the excellent work being done with young people in particular to deal with anti-social behaviour.

The Team removed just about everything they could, including some very small items as well as the obvious things.  Many residents made a point of coming over to say a big ‘thank you’ to the team for their work.

Meanwhile, a lady walking her dog drew John’s attention to a couple of sources of smelly water, one of which seemed to have an oily substance in it.  (See small photographs.)

John reported these to our Environmental Health Officers.

Do let us know if you spot any other sources of possible environmental concerns.