That Rings a Bell

On 19th May 2013, a peal of 5040 changes in 2 hours and 54 minutes was made at St Helen's, Parish Church of Sefton. This was to congratulate my ward colleague Councillor Maureen Fearn on being installed as Mayor of Sefton for the third time. The first person to achieve this.

When Secret 7 Became Famous 5

On Thursday 25th April there was a Sefton Council Cabinet meeting in Southport Town Hall

Five of the seven Bootle Labour Cabinet drove for 45 minutes to Southport.

The meeting started at 10 am and finished at 10.05am.

Is this a record for the shortest ever Sefton Cabinet meeting?

Frankly I'm not that shocked. the Bootle 5 have obviously had their meeting in secret, behind closed doors somewhere in Bootle.

Cabinet meetings used to be a place for debate and consensus, but that was back in the days when 3 political parties worked together.

Will this meeting's famous 5 minutes be beaten by the Famous Five or Secret Seven in the future?

I'm not sure it can - but surprises seem to be a constant expectation where the leadership of Sefton are concerned.

Disappearing Democracy

The Labour Party have always been proud of their socialist background. They look after the poor and downtrodden and their union links are based on the democratic rights of the individuals they represent.

This championing of democracy now seems to have been forgotten by the leading Labour group on Sefton Council.

An important part of local democracy and accountability are Sefton's Area Committees.

Here in Southport our own Southport Area Committee meets every 2 months.  At these meetings decisions are made on local issues. An important part of the meeting takes place in the Council Chamber where residents can ask questions of the Police and their elected members. Often contentious issues are discussed and the well attended meetings often conclude late into the night.

Sefton's Labour leaders have now decided to reduce the number of times this committee will meet. A report on a plan to reduce the frequency of the meetings from 6 to 4 came to the Southport Area Committee. It was discussed and the unanimous decision was that the frequency should remain unaltered.

At lat weeks Full Council meeting this decision was dismissed and Labour outvoted the Lib Dem and Conservative groups and imposed reductions from 6 to 4 meetings.

The dates of the meetings have now been published and we are left with the absurd position of there being a gap of over 3 months between some meetings.

Therefore a Southport resident could email a question to the Area Committee in May and they will have to wait until September to receive an answer.

Democracy in action - Labour style!

Sefton Tories go AWOL

I spent an interesting evening in Bootle on Tuesday night.

My Lib Dem colleagues, Councillors Fred Weavers and Marianne Welsh and I, were attending a regular overview and scrutiny meeting. On the agenda was a call-in.

Call-ins occur when 3 elected members disagree with a decision made by the executive. The matter is discussed at the scrutiny committee and a recommendation made to cabinet or full council.

On this occasion the call-in was made by 3 Tories, including the leader of the Sefton Tory group.

He spoke at length to justify the call-in and eventually a vote was taken to decide on a course of action.

The committee is made up of 10 elected members: 6 Labour, 3 Lib Dem and only 1 Tory.

The sole Tory member on the committee didn't turn up and neither did his substitute!

This left the bizarre situation where the leader of the Tory group was unsupported by a missing member from his own party.

To rub salt in his wounds the missing member also happened to be the deputy leader of the same Tory group!

Medium Mike

For as long as I can remember I have struggled to get clothes that fit.

For years, previously,  I could walk into a shop, pick up an article labelled as "small" and usually it would fit perfectly.

Something has changed in recent years.

I have not put weight on, I haven't grown and my measurements remain the same.

However, I now find that clothes labelled as "small" bury me. That is if I can find any such labels. Shops such as Marks & Spencer's no monger have my sizes on display - I have to order them.

This may be an anomaly, but this all changed on Tuesday.

Whilst shopping for walking clothes in Ambleside, I spotted a fleece that I have coveted for some time. I found one on the sale rail at a drastically reduced price - but it was a "medium".

Amazingly it fit me perfectly, so I bought it!

Have elastic tape measures disappeared?
Have I suddenly grown a couple of inches?

Or could it be that the manufacturers of walking clothes do not need to give the false impression to purchasers that they have not put on weight?

Speak Up We Can't Hear You!

It was, once again, a bizarre night at last night's budget setting meeting for Sefton Council.

The night began with the Mayor failing to use his microphone correctly. When a member of the public asked him to speak up, he retorted that he didn't need a microphone and that his voice would easily carry to the back of the room - more on this later!

Ten minutes into the meeting an unruly section of the public gallery began a tirade of childish chants and insults. The Mayor decided that he wasn't standing for such behaviour and he declared an adjournment of the meeting. He promptly followed the mace out of the chamber.

Not knowing what to do, the rest of us did nothing. We spent forty-five minutes chatting quietly to each other while the rabble continued their onslaught.

Meanwhile behind the scenes two things were going on. The police were gathering to deal with the noisy protestors and council employees were hastily assembling chairs in the large first floor chamber.

We were then asked to reconvene in the hastily created temporary council chamber. Chairs were arranged to resemble the council chamber. Unfortunately the chosen chamber was smaller and we sat within spitting distance of our rival party(literally).

Another unfortunate feature of this new arrangement was the lack of microphones, particularly the lack of a microphone for the mayor. From this moment on the mayor failed to deliver his promise of an able delivery of his voice. I couldn't hear a word he said throughout the night!

It was also very cold as the room wasn't heated.

It's always easy to criticise with hindsight, so I will do so.

Sefton Council's most important meeting of the year was conducted in an unheated room, by sixty-six councillors sat on dining chairs, knee to knee. The Mayor "chaired" the meeting whist being unheard by the majority of councillors and all members of the public present. He was also hidden from sight behind a row of clerks.

While this was going on, directly beneath us was an empty and warm council chamber full of newly purchased microphones that was specifically designed to hold council meetings.

I may be naive and slow to understand at times, but wouldn't it have made more sense to follow the Mayor out of the chamber when he left. This would have left the rabble without an audience. The police could do what they did anyway and we could have then returned to the chamber and got on with the night's important business.

Most importantly, the proceedings would have been audible for all present.

I will return to this subject in a later posting to report on the content of the meeting.

Save Southport's Libraries

LIBRARY CAMPAIGNERS PUT FORWARD PLAN TO SAVE THREATENED LIBRARIES

As many will know Sefton Council holds its crucial budget meeting this evening.  One of the Labour-proposed cuts of most concern locally is the proposal to close Birkdale Library, together with Ainsdale and Churchtown Libraries.  In fact more than half the current 13 libraries in Sefton would shut under the so-called “Option B” plan.

Concerned local residents and councillors have been highly active over the past 4 months in campaigning against the closure plan.  Petitions containing 12,500 signatures were submitted to Sefton Council’s ruling Cabinet 2 weeks ago calling for all three of Southport’s branch libraries to be saved.

For example, the highly active Birkdale Library Action Group (BLAG) has been fighting a vigourous battle.  BLAG was founded by Birkdale residents Peter Rimmer and Terry Durrance and Birkdale councillors have been actively involved from day one.  Scores of local residents have been involved in leafleting homes, collecting petition signatures and researching alternatives which might save the Library.

My Birkdale colleague Simon Shaw has been particularly involved and has played a major role in drafting two financial submissions which put forward a way of saving (initially) Birkdale Library and subsequently all three threatened libraries in Southport.

BLAG submitted a detailed submission to the Cabinet meeting 2 weeks ago.  This was primarily written by Terry Durrance, with Simon contributing the financial appendix.

Immediately following that mid-February Cabinet meeting members of BLAG and the other two library campaigns in Southport (Ainsdale and Churchtown) met and agreed to join forces and make a ‘Joint Further Submission’ to the Council.  In it they put forward a comprehensive “feasible and sustainable alternative” to the Council’s “Option B”.

This latest submission was prepared by Simon, with assistance from colleagues, and is included on the agenda of this morning’s Cabinet meeting.  You can read it in full here:

http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s44923/Libraries%20Joint%20Further%20Submission%20Feb%202013.pdf

http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s44924/Libraries%20Joint%20Further%20Submission%20Annex%20A.pdf

http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s44925/BLAG%20Appendices%201%202%20Feb%202013.pdf

On Thursday last week leading members of the 3 library campaigns attended a meeting at Bootle Town Hall with Councillor Peter Dowd and Councillor Ian Moncur, who is the cabinet member responsible for libraries, to discuss the ‘Joint Further Submission’   Terry and Simon attended on behalf of BLAG, Cllr Haydn Preece and Melanie Horridge from the Friends of Ainsdale Library and Cllr Nigel Ashton and Elaine Langley from the Friends of Churchtown Library.

Simon explains: “We were very pleased to be able to meet with Cllr. Dowd and Cllr. Moncur and set out the thinking behind our detailed submission.  The Council has decided it needs to save £400,000 on libraries.  Our detailed plan puts forward a way of keeping the libraries open with a slight reduction in opening hours at the libraries under threat, and by building up a team of volunteers to help in each of the libraries.”

“In our Submission we say that we think there needs to be an average minimum of 10-15 volunteers recruited for each library.  We would see there being a major role for the various existing Friends groups in recruiting volunteers and organising volunteer rotas.” 

“However we do acknowledge that there are important legal aspects to volunteers, for example vetting, CRB checks and so on, and we do recognise that this aspect needs to be organised by an employed member of the library service.”

“We very much hope that our ‘Joint Further Submission’ can provide the basis of a sustainable solution which removes the threat of closure from our local libraries.”

I hope to have more to report on this important topic following this morning’s Cabinet meeting meeting and the Budget Council meeting this evening – both of which are taking place at Bootle Town Hall.

Save Southport Libraries

Library Campaigners from Southport are hoping that a demonstration and presentation of petitions tomorrow (Thursday 14th Feb) will help prevent a 'St Valentine's Day Massacre' of Southport's branch library service. 

The last chance to lobby the Sefton Council Cabinet concerning their plans to close Southport's three branch Libraries (Churchtown, Ainsdale and Birkdale) takes place tomorrow morning when the Council's ruling Cabinet meet at Southport Town Hall to decide what to present to the Council in their budget plans. The Cabinet meeting itself takes place in the Birkdale Room at the Town Hall and is open to the public to listen to the members' deliberations. Final decisions will be taken at a meeting of the full council in Bootle on 28th February but this is the last chance for Southport people to have their say to decision-makers in our own town.

On the Cabinet's agenda are five separate presentations by petitioners seeking to retain the branch libraries within Sefton MBC. At present, the Cabinet is planning to close seven of these libraries in order to make a saving of £400,000 in the Council's spending plans for next year. 

The petitioners' spokespeople who will each b making five minute presentations and answering questions include Melanie Horridge of the Friends of Ainsdale Library and Mary McQueen of the Birkdale Library Action Group. Southport Councillor Tony Dawson is presenting the case on behalf of the  'Southport Says' internet petition to save all three of Southport's branch libraries.

The idea for the demonstration comes from Cambridge Ward Councillor Pat Keith of the Churchtown Library campaign (pictured). Councillor Keith said:

"Twelve and a half thousand people from Southport have petitioned the Council chiefs to tell then how much we value our branch libraries.   Many have also presented detailed explanations of why each of Southport's three libraries should be retained.  This is a chance for all three campaigns to come together, united, to show our support for those who are presenting the case on all our behalf."

Crosby Civic Hall & Library

The plot thickens for Sefton's libraries.

My last posting was about a sudden new development proposed for Bikdale library.

Southport Visitor's website now carries the following story about Crosby Library and Civic Hall:

POPULAR Merseyside arts venue Crosby Civic Hall could be demolished and rebuilt as headquarters for an unnamed UK company.

Blueprint proposals received by Sefton council would see Crosby’s Civic Hall and its adjoining library torn down.

In its place, developers want to construct a “UK headquarters and resource centre” and a “small mixed-use housing development” with car parking spaces.

A replacement community library would also be built within the complex and would be the same size as the current facility.

The developers – who have not been named – approached cash-strapped Sefton council after it announced it could no longer fund the maintenance and day-to-day running of the venue.

The proposals were listed in a council document discussing public consultations held over plans to shut seven Sefton libraries – Ainsdale, Birkdale, Churchtown, Crosby, Aintree, Litherland and Orrell.

Council officer Steve Deakin states in the report: “The proposal would be at a net zero cost to the council and provide a new library facility of an equivalent size to the existing library at a peppercorn rent.”

The Civic Hall was last month handed a lifeline after volunteer arts group Crosby Cultural Quarter were handed the keys to the site under a four-month pilot scheme to stage events. The council, which had been looking to close down the building, said it had been willing to look at a longer-term deal.

Council officers are set to hold further discussions with the developer to see if the plans are viable.

The report also tells how no firm decisions have been taken over the potential closures of all but five libraries in Sefton. A commercial library provider has stepped forward with a view to running some of the at-risk facilities and talks are continuing.

To add further intrigue to this story I can add that I, as one of Sefton's 66 councillors, knew nothing of this until I stumbled across the story yesterday.

I wonder what Sefton's officers and Labour cabinet have planned for the remaining libraries who's closures have been consulted upon.

Birkdale Library Development

You will soon be able to buy your fruit and vegetable in Birkdale library, if Sefton's Labour Cabinet accept a proposal at next week's cabinet meeting.

The proposal comes from Sefton CVS.

If the Labour Cabinet decide to close the library, CVS plan to move their base from Shakespeare St to Birkdale library.

Their proposal states:

Our Vision for Birkdale Library:

In relocating from our current premises to Birkdale Library we believe we would be able to:
• enhance the profile and reach our existing services that are currently being delivered from the sixth floor of an office block with limited parking

• maintain many of the current services based at the library

• develop additional services linked to emerging challenges such as welfare changes.

We would seek to develop a section of the building into an internet cafe that would enable the Henshaws group to continue, as well as providing community access points that could be used for job seekers, finding volunteering opportunities and benefit claims. 

This would also create a community meeting venue for isolated people. We would also create a dedicated training/meeting space that would support a range of community initiatives.

Maintenance of community information: - We will continue to provide local people access to community information through the internet and paper based resources. We will explore the provision of lifelong learning opportunities through partnerships with Colleges and VCF providers.

Sefton CVS have experience in establishing reading groups so will be able to continue to support the existing group.

Local History Groups –we will allocate space for this resource and work with U3A and the Library Service to maintain the group.

Storytime and Rhymetime – we have discussed with Parenting 2000 who will support the development of groups with expertise and resources.

Outreach Services for Sefton Library Service: We would look to work in partnership to recruit volunteers to support an at home library service for housebound people and to explore the possibility of operating a limited lending service for those who cannot get to the town centre service. We are aware that due to the potential dynamics of public access to Library services, this area of need will increase; therefore the Volunteer Centre would work with the Library Service to develop services with volunteers to address increase needs and demands.

Fruit and Vegetable Co-ops- possibility for the library to be used as a venue to sell fruit and vegetables to the local community at set times during the week. Fruit could also be sold to organisations and individuals attending the library.

Peer Mentors- the library will provide a valuable resource for the peer mentors, a space where they can invite people in for a chat in a pleasant environment. A successful bid has provided funding for more peer mentors to work with older people and those with long term conditions. The library setting will help to set up the networks and support for these peer mentors.

Lifestyle and behavioural change- the library will provide an environment for training and support for those people who want to make changes and to improve their health. Resources can be made available to help people to make those changes.

Partnership working – the library will enable us to further develop partnerships and to encourage a range of services that can be developed and delivered to the community from the library setting.

Modifications to the Building
We have not yet had the chance to have a full assessment of the building but believe the works required would not require major structural adaptations – other than toilet and kitchen. All partners would be prepared to work closely with the local authority to ensure that the building will continue to provide services that support the well- being and resilience of the community. 


I have highlighted parts of the text that I find most interesting.

Birkdale library is a branch library, not a huge central library. I do not see how CVS will be able to squeeze a lending library, cafe, greengrocers, interview room, local history space, training space, meeting space and office space into the building without major structural adaptations.

My suspicious nature grows stronger as the Labour leadership of Sefton continues.

I ask myself the following:

• How long has the cabinet member concerned known about this proposal?
• If relocating to a library is such a good idea, why aren't CVS planning on a similar set up in a library due for closure in the south of the borough?
• Why wasn't this proposal included in the library consultation?
• Why was the agenda for the cabinet meeting posted after 3pm on Wednesday, thereby being too late for the local press to include the news in today's papers?

My final question is to the resident's of Southport.

Do you want a library or do you want a cafe that sells a few spuds and carrots with a bookcase stuffed with old books tucked away in a corner somewhere?

If you do want the CVS version I wouldn't bother trying to arrive by car as the car park will be full of staff cars as I believe there are something like 40 people currently employed at their Shakespeare St premises.

Southport BID

The picture above was taken some time ago, when Southport's Tourist Information Centre was threatened with closure.

I have some good news and some not so good news to report about Southport and it's endeavour to improve the offer it provides for residents and tourists.

The following was reported in today's local Visiter Newspaper:

SEFTON Council is today (Thursday) expected to show its faith in the Southport town centre and seafront areas by allocating £100,000 to our resort's Business Improvement District project.

Politicians will meet at Bootle Town Hall at 10am to discuss giving our BID team access to the entire borough High Street Innovation Fund – after politicians felt that our town’s scheme was the best in the borough.

The funding will provide a huge boost to the BID team, which is set to appoint a project manager charged with delivering the scheme to the seafront and Lord Street.

A BID allows businesses within a designated area to raise money and decide together how best to spend it.

Separate from the council, it means businesses, shops, restaurants and hotels can come up with their own ways of promoting and marketing themselves.

In his report to councillors, Alan Lunt, Sefton Council’s director of built environment, explained a BID Task and Finish Group believed Southport’s plan to be the best.

He said: “The group evaluated the potential of Sefton’s town centres to become a Business Improvement District, in terms of their overall viability ie whether there was a critical mass of sustainable income, the number and types of levy payer, the centre’s strategic significance, and the added value of using a BID to grow the centre.

“The key finding was that of all the areas considered, only Southport met both criteria of viability and local support.”

I attended the Cabinet meeting this morning.

The Not So Good News is that the Labour Cabinet decided to amend the above plan.

The BID team will only be allowed to access SOME of the money NOT ALL of it.

The ruling Labour group never cease to amaze me. Not only does this dilute the good news, but the cabinet member who made the amendment was none other than the Cabinet Member for Tourism!

Southport's Atkinson Centre

On Wednesday afternoon I arranged for members of the Southport Area Committee to have a site visit to the Atkinson Centre, formerly know as The Arts Centre.

The local press have carried stories on the refurbishment of the centre with numerous photographs.

I took a few of my own photos which follow.

All who attended were impressed by the transformation of this once dilapidated building. When it opens in May it will act as a regional hub for the arts and it will be something that Southport residents will be proud of.

I may post further details when I can find an electronic version of the reports I have received in the past.

The New Tourist Information Centre

Above the stairway

Seating in the studio

Repositioned Stained Glass Windows

Keep it clean!!

Elected Members with Head of Arts John Taylor

The New Lights

Lots of Daylight

Main Theatre with New "Boxes".

Shelving going into the library

Sefton's Library Closures

I have just read my colleague Tony Robertson's Blog where he highlights "misrepresentations" in an article from a recently distributed "Labour Voice" paper.

Tony went on to state:

The other day a newspaper called ‘Labour Voice’ dropped through my door and from cover to cover it is little more than party political ranting. But, there is an article about Library closures which so misrepresents what has happened to date as to be laughable.

It says ‘The review of the Libraries was launched in 2009 (that much is true) by the Lib Dems who were planning to close a series of libraries throughout the borough.’

The Library Review was actually launched by Labour, Lib Dems and Tories acting together as the Council was then ‘balanced’ with no one party in control. The Lib Dems did not agree to the review because we ‘were planning to close a series of libraries’ indeed as Lib Dem and Council Leader at the time I don’t recall any councillors of any colour calling for library closures back then.

I'd like to add more detail to this deceit.

An Overview and Scrutiny Committee, that I attended, on 3rd June 2008 agreed to set up a working group to look at the physical assets of Sefton's libraries. The group was to be chaired by Councillor David Pearson (Conservative), along with myself (Liberal Democrat), Councillor Veronica Webster (Labour) and Councillor Kevin Cluskey (Labour).

The group met on several occasions and we also took part in site visits to the libraries.

The Terms of Reference for the group were:

1.2 Terms of Reference and Objectives

1. To clearly establish the criteria for undertaking a Libraries Service Asset Management review.

At the first meeting of the Working Group, which was held on the 25th February 2009, Members received an informative presentation from Christine Hall, Head of Libraries, and substantial background documentation regarding the service. Following discussion at this meeting it was felt by Members that this review should not focus solely upon the condition of library buildings and that the review should take into account the wider aspects that affect service delivery. It was also felt that a comprehensive review would be a lengthy and complex process and therefore proposed that the review would be split into two stages. Stage One would determine the specific criteria for the review and Stage Two would undertake the actual review over a lengthier period of time in the next Municipal Year.

I can't find the word CLOSURE anywhere in the above text.

The group published their report on 3rd April 2009. It can be viewed via the following link:

Libraries Final Report PDF 14 MB


I would therefore challenge Sefton's labour Group or their supporters to produce evidence to support their article.

The Review of Libraries was not launched by the Lib Dems. It was set up by a committee chaired by a Conservative. Two of the members present were Labour's Councillors Webster (Labour's current Whip) and Clusky (Sefton's Mayor). The Labour party made up 50% of the group!

The phrase "closures of libraries" does not appear anywhere in the report nor does it appear in the minutes of the meetings concerned.

I will leave it up to the reader of this post to decide where the truth lies and the possible reasons for the "misrepresentations" of the Labour Voice.

My Return to Manchester Mecca

Last night I made an emotional return trip to Mecca in Manchester. I was born and bred in Manchester and for most of my life my religion has been Manchester United and my Mecca has been Old Trafford.

Our visit was courtesy of my wife's colleague's season tickets which he was unable to use on the night.

I am proud of the fact that unlike the other Manchester club mine has stayed on the same site.

The problem I have is that it has changed beyond recognition.

The match was mediocre and we beat West ham to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. I got most of my enjoyment from reminiscing about past times and trying to soak up what little atmosphere there was.

Modern stadiums are warmer and safer but they lack the atmosphere of old.

I spent many saturday afternoons stood on the terraces of the Stretford End having paid a couple of shillings to get in. Programmes were a shilling. Pies not much more and the Oxo was dreadful but we drank it to get warm.

Half-time meant going for a push though the crowd to get warm.

The tallest person in the ground always managed to stand directly in front of me, but this was quickly solved by a shove in the back at the first corner.

Most the match involved being pushed up and down the terraces whilst trying to keep upright.

At half-time a brass band played on the pitch and we all waited for the scores to appear on the Scoreboard using our programmes to decipher the code used.

Everybody in the old Stretford End sang without song sheets and we all wore simple red and white scarves.

The scarves and wooly hats were bought from the souvenir shop, which was a simple wooden shed, painted red, outside the stadium(mine was from the local market).

The Old Stretford End (I'm the one with the red and white scarf)

The old stadium even had an unofficial progression built into it.

 Life started in the cheapest Stretford End where you learnt the songs and all the swear words.

You got a little older and you moved to the less crowded Stretford Paddock on the corner where you still stood and sang but without the constant fear for life and limb.

Older still and you moved to the Scoreboard Paddock at the other end of the stadium. Here you stood with a bit more room and you only sang the old songs that you once sang on the Stretford End.

Older still and you stated to search for seats to save your tired legs and you rarely sang.

Some things remain unchanged.

The state of the pitch is still dreadful and there are still plenty of "experts" to eavesdrop  on whilst they give Alex Ferguson and the referee the benefit of their wisdom. They even sing some of the songs that I used to sing.

I look forward to a return visit. I can no longer afford a season ticket. Neither can I do my impression of George Best as I scythe  my way through the crowds at speed to get a good seat on the train home.

Yes, football has changed. The crowds are more middle than upper class and today's 70,000 crowd is no match in volume for the 60,000 of old.

But Old Trafford is still Mecca to me and I look forward to making my pilgrimages in the future. 

Happy times before high fences arrived.

Cabinet Cancelled

Sefton's Labour cabinet have cancelled their meeting that was due to take place next Thursday.

The reason given by officers is that there was only two information items for consideration, which did not justify calling a meeting.

Why do I get the feeling that the opposition(and residents) are being kept in the dark ahead of an important Full Council meeting to be held later this month.

It seems to be the season for cancelling meetings. Sefton's website informed me this morning that the following meetings have been cancelled:


Site Visit for Overview and Scrutiny on 14th January CANCELLED

Licensing & Regulatory Committee on 14th January CANCELLED

Crosby Area Committee on 16th January CANCELLED

CABINET on 17th January CANCELLED

Sefton East Parishes Area Committee on 24th January CANCELLED

Most of the above committees only meet every 2 months. I find it hard to believe that members and officers cannot summon up enough business to fill an agenda.

I'm told that the Sefton East Parishes AC has been rescheduled at a later time.

Area Committees are the only real forum where residents can raise questions and have them answered on the night. It's bad enough that they are now held every 2 months rather than the original monthly meetings. Cancelling such meetings without an explanation gives a poor representation of Sefton's apparent wish to consult with their residents.

Happy New Year

We are into the first week of 2013 and, as is the custom, it's time to look back at the old year and look forward to the new.

To simply matters I've compiled a list as follows:

2012 The Good

Olympics

Bradley's Yellow Jersey

Queen's Jubilee

Olympic Torch

Gaining 2 new seats for Lib Dems in Southport

My ward colleague Maureen being reelected

The weather in early spring

Gaining temporary employment
Our new kitchen and wood burner

Holiday in France

Holiday in Scotland

2012 The Bad

Holiday in Scotland

The weather in summer
Having to pay for new kitchen and wood burner

Losing my position on Sefton's cabinet

Losing control of Sefton to Labour

End of temporary employment

Man City winning the Premiership

Having to sell my beloved Land Rover

The death of my neighbour and good friend, Reg

2013 Things To Look Forward To

Getting my motorbike back on the road

Another holiday in France

Better weather

No elections

Man United to win the Premiership

Man United to win the Champions League

Rediscover cycling and birdwatching

Getting back to full fitness

Finding new employment

Winning the lottery!

I trust that all who read this have had a good Christmas break and that you too are looking forward to 2013 whist saying goodbye to 2012. Although my list isn't complete the Goods beat the Bads 11:9, so despite my general negative feeling for the year it can't have been that bad really.

Kew's Carols

On Sunday afternoon I joined my ward colleague Councillor maureen Fearn and attended the carol service at St Francis of Assisi Church in Kew, Southport.

This was the second carol service I attended this year, the other being at the salvation Army Citadel.

I thoroughly enjoyed both and was made very welcome by clergy and congregation.

One thing happened at St Francis that put a wider smile on my face.

As a child I worshipped my granddad. he was a larger than life character, a teetotaller and a regular attender at the local chapel. He had a great sense of humour and although he never really used bad language he was very fond of using the word "sod" or "sodding".

The one place he refused to use these words was in church,

So every year when Good King Wenceslas was sung he omitted the word "sod" when singing "Heat was in the very ***", adding a nod of the head as a fill in.

Consequently the whole family took up the custom and we still do to this day.

So my apologies to the congregation of St Francis if they though I had a peculiar nervous affliction, joined by a huge smile and a silent chuckle towards the end of the carol. I was simply doing as I was told as a child and not using "bad" language in church.

My Christmas Trolley Dash

I don't watch Coronation Street any more. I stopped when the Battersbys arrived.

Back in the days when I did watch, regularly, Ken Barlow, pictured above, had slithered down the employment ladder from the lofty heights of teaching to gathering the shopping trollies at Bettabuys supermarket in Wetherfied.

I seem to have followed a similar path myself.

Two years ago I was teaching at the last private school to exist in Southport. Like Ken I was a pillar of the local community. Parents sought my advice and I like to believe that I had a positive effect on the children I taught.

Then the recession came and Sunnymede School closed it's doors.

Whilst filling my role as a Sefton councillor I have spent many an hour on the Internet looking for part-time employment.

Recently I was lucky enough to gain a temporary position working part-time at a local supermarket, picking on-line orders over the busy Christmas period.

On Tuesday I was asked to cover a lunch break for an hour collecting trolleys from the car park.

One of the Supervisors asked how I was getting on and I shouted out that I was doing a Ken Barlow.

It was later that I began to wonder if she may have been puzzled by my comment. She probably didn't know that I too had been a teacher and she may not have been old enough to have seen Ken pushing his trollies.

My resemblance to Ken stops with the trollies. I have no children, I have only been married once and I have never been a member of the Labour party.

Scrooge - The Morning After The Ghosts - famous scene from the classic m...

I scanned YouTube for a humorous clip to use as a Christmas greeting. But couldn't find one to beat my favourite Christmas film.

As a child in Manchester my Dad forced me to watch this whenever it appeared on the T.V. - thanks Dad - I've never grown tired of it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Clairvoyant Councillor

For a few weeks now I have been working part-time at a local supermarket, picking the orders paced online. It is company policy to assist shoppers whenever they seek assistance. When a customer asks the location of a product, it is expected that staff will take the customer to the correct location rather than simply point in the general direction.

Such a customer approached me on Friday in the breakfast cereals isle.

I was expecting her to ask for the whereabouts of the Weetabix or the Cornflakes.

Instead she asked me what were her husbands favourite cereals?

My only honest response had to be "you need to ask your husband".

She didn't seem to register my reply, but she seemed happy and placed a box of expensive muesli in her trolley.

I do get asked all sorts of strange and diverse questions as a councillor, supermarket employee and in the past as a teacher. But my skills as a clairvoyant have never been sought before.