Thursday, 23 February, 2006
 | County Council Budget |
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Worcestershire County Council met today to set its budget for the new financial year.
The Council have recieved an exceptionally bad settlement from Govt this year, and as such a 4.94% increase in its precept is required to protect front line services. The County is also embarking on an efficiency program that will see over £10m saved in the medium term.
There was an amendment from the Lib Dem Group which was defeated, as it was short sighted, and not financially prudent. There were also some small amendements from the Labour group, which were taken on board.
From a technical point, I couldnt work out why the Lib Dems supported the amendments, and then voted against the budget....... they seemed to have their wires crossed.
Sunday, 19 February, 2006
| Letter to the shuttle |
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Below is a copy of a letter from Stephen Clee to the Shuttle:
Dear Sirs,
In response to the Health Concern Councillors letter (Shuttle last week)
I wish it to be known that Wyre Forest District Council have been fully engaged in the Consultation process on the managerial changes of the Strategic Health Authorities,Ambulance Trusts and Worcestershire PCTs.
A scrutiny exercise on these Consultations has been carried out by our Housing,Health and Rural Affairs Policy Panel and recommendations put forward to Cabinet together with observations made at the Public Meeting held in the Town Hall on February 8th.
The Cabinet supported the proposed changes to the Strategic Health Authorities and the Ambulance Trusts and re-affirmed the recommendations from our Policy Panel that we wish to see the status quo regarding the Worcestershire P.C.Ts. If however this is not permitted then Option 2 be supported ass it fits best with the current system.
Wyre Forest District Council acknowledges the Chief Executive David Nicholson CBE for giving us the opportunity to make a response to the Consultations of Ensuring a Patient-Led NHS.
Yours sincerley
Cllr Stephen Clee
Tuesday, 14 February, 2006
| West Mercia Police |
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The Board that controls the West Mercia Police met today. The high lights of the meeting were:
Rejection of the Govt offer to voluntarly merge with the other West Midland Forces. The main reasons related to the lack of clarity as to the benefits of a merger, the lack of reassurance about maintaining a "local" service and the lack of any significant funding towards the anticipated £52m cost of the merger. The Govt has recently stated that the estimated financial benefit of the merger has been reduced from £23m to just £12m. Private business would not puch ahead with a £900m merger with such poor information. The Govt needs to get its act together.
The Police Precpt will increase by an average 4.94% from April. This was mainly due to a very low grant increase from Govt (just 3.2%) and the need to invest in Level 2 policing.
Monday, 06 February, 2006
| Consulted and ignored |
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It has been announced that Charles Clarke will totally ignore the expressed wishes of the communities of West Mercia, and force through a merger with Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and West Midlands, creating the largest force outside London, serving some 5m people.
What is the point of consultation if you have already made your mind up?
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