I’m posting a link here to a very dry (almost Open University c1980s) discussion on council efficiency. Despite its dryness, it does capture the current serious debate going on in councils across the country, in this case it’s the procurement directors of Linconshire and Worcestershire; it could easily have been Trafford and Salford.
Responses to the cuts aired in the programme include a centralised project hub and greater reliance on the voluntary sector. My nagging worry is that these project hub’s or Transformation (Trafford’s version) always recruit new staff and add to the bill; in times of crisis we always seem to need a new level of management to tell the old level of management what it should do.
Using the voluntary sector; all for it. But do council chiefs really understand the dynamics of the sector?
The project will conduct a feasibility study and options appraisal to identify efficiency savings and customer service improvement opportunities and consider alternative governance models. This work will identify business models for a collaborative approach to library services for the Greater Manchester Region that will maintain and improve these statutory services. These models would be flexible enough to allow involvement of other library authorities and/or cultural organisations within the NW region.
The future model whilst acknowledging local accountability will go beyond delivering current services at less cost. It must release capacity to transform the services in order to invest in new developments that fit with social, economic and technological change. A vibrant, high quality, relevant and economically sustainable service for the 21st century is the ultimate aim. Improving services together; enhancing quality together; achieving value together.
There’s an opportunity with this pilot to really engage on the role of ‘the library’ at the heart of a community. What do you think?
Is the library just another service which we use occasionally or perhaps not at all? Perhaps it’s no more special than having access to an MOT garage?
Personally I believe libraries are special but we need to get more out of them; and I do welcome the challenge of trying to achieve this.
The following news release has just been added to the council website:
More fun summer school holiday activities in Trafford
04/08/2010
The latest of Trafford Council’s school summer holiday playschemes and activities have been announced. All playschemes and play sessions are open to disabled and non disabled children and pre-booking sessions is advisable.
The Lostock inclusive playscheme offers morning or afternoon sessions for 5-12 year-olds. Running Monday to Friday, though to 20 August, children can attend a session a day, 9.15am-12.15pm or 1.30pm-4.30pm. The playscheme is being held in the Sports Hall at Lostock College, Selby Road, Stretford and each session costs £2.50. To book Lostock playscheme places people should ring 07711 454527
Free family play sessions are also available at Partington Community Centre, Central Road. The sessions for 0-8 year-olds and their parent or carer run from 1.30pm-3.30pm on Wednesdays (11 and 18 August) and Fridays (13 and 20 August).
For more information or advice people can contact Trafford’s Children and Young People’s Information Service on 0161 912 1053.
Coppice and Woodsend libraries are holding family craft sessions for 0-12 year-olds (children must be accompanied by an adult). At Coppice Library on Coppice Avenue there will be two sessions (9.30am to 10.30am and 11am to noon) on Wednesday, 11 and Wednesday 18 August. Each session costs £1 per child. To book a place people should contact the library on 0161 912 3560.
At Woodsend Library, Woodsend Road, the sessions will be on Mondays, 9 and 16 August, between 10am and noon. Each session costs £1 per child. Places can be booked by contacting the library direct on 0161 912 2919.
Humphrey Park, Victoria Park, Lostock Park – Our kids are having the funding pulled for much needed play areas but down in Conservative stronghold of East Herts – they can afford a playground for …..Dogs!
Kate Green is to be applauded for raising the issue of unequal treatment from Trafford in favour of the most affluent areas. A reminder of how we were treated in the winter snow compared to Hale.
Letter issued 15th July 2010 to John Lamb (Director of Environment) Trafford Borough Council from Councillor Mike Cordingley
John,
Firstly I need to declare an interest in that I live on Raglan Road.
I’m writing in anticipation of an escalation of complaints from neighbours over the state of the Raglan Road surface. I’ve been getting regular comments as it is.
This has been going on for at least two years and each year I’ve submitted Raglan Road for consideration of its inclusion onto the work programme. It’s surface is the worst that I’m aware of in Trafford in terms of deterioration of the tarmac surface over the concrete base. It has been subjected to more patches than a hippy’s jeans.
Today it appears that we’re going to be subjected to another patching exercise judging by the markings that have been made to the road. Unfortunately it doesn’t even look as though it’s a comprehensive marking and many spots needing attention have been left unmarked. In any event we know from experience that the patching won’t last as essentially the road surface is breaking up.
I’ve attached a link to some quick photographs I’ve just taken in a small segment of the road:
I’d really appreciate it if you could provide a justification for Raglan Road’s non inclusion in the resurfacing schedule. I don’t really want to get into pointing at roads who have received attention for less; but Hilrose Avenue in Urmston was nowhere near as bad as Raglan Road is aesthetically and it does seem to be a lottery at times as to which roads are included.
Since there’s an obvious personal interest, it does place me in a difficult position. Therefore in the interests of transparency I’m posting this email to the blog on the Gorse Hill Labour website and similarly intend to post any replies I receive to the website.
Please note that Councillor Shaw, as Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny Core Committee, has agreed to a request that the Executive’s recent decision relating to Lostock College / Stretford High School / Proposed Academy should be called in for Scrutiny, by the Overview & Scrutiny Core Committee.
As is usual in these cases, with arrangements needing to be made at short notice, the times available for a meeting are exceedingly constrained; in the event, the only time that certain key parties are available is next Monday evening, 19/7/10. The meeting will therefore take place on Monday evening, commencing at 7.00 p.m., in Rooms 2&3 at Trafford Town Hall. I would be very grateful if you could note these arrangements in your diaries; it would also be very helpful if you could indicate if you are intending to attend.
The Chairman has indicated that Members of the O&S Education Sub-Committee are also welcome to attend this meeting of the O&S Core Committee, should they wish to do so. At the discretion of the Chairman, they may also be able to ask questions and give their views.
A formal agenda and papers for the meeting will be issued tomorrow. In the interim, I am attaching for your information the completed call-in proforma.
Thanks & regards -
Trafford Council
Room 125, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford M32 0TH Call in Document
A special meeting of Trafford Council’s executive is meet on Monday 5th July to take the decision to close Lostock College and Stretford High School to enable the opening of an Academy at Stretford High (subject to the funding remaining in place)
Time: 6:00pm (members of the public are advised to arrive in good time as there’s a possibility that places will be limited)
Date: Monday 5th July
Place: Trafford Town Hall (notice indicates council chamber) – Public Access is from the entrance on the Warwick Road Side of the town hall
The opportunity to speak at Executive meetings is carefully controlled by the ruling Conservatives and they apply a rule that only one speaker is allowed from each political (non Conservative) party. It’s likely they will apply a similar ruling to members of the public and restrict speakers.
This is a very important decision and will shape educational access in the Stretford area for years to come. It’s clear that in totality they will have diminished the school buildings and facilities across the two sites in favour of modern but cramped accommodation at the Stretford High site.
The argument is that within these modern but cramped conditions a better quality of education can be provided. Many parents at both schools are sceptical of this; both schools are already delivering quality according to Ofsted.
At the same time that the Stretford High site is expanding its capacity, it is having to shed school fields to Tesco. This aspect taints the whole plan and undermines any claim by the council that improving provision is at the heart of the decision. The enlarged Academy should inherit its full complement of land and facilities from the smaller Stretford High School that precedes it.
The eventual loss of the Lostock site to the greater Academy is another kick to improved provision. The performing arts studios and facilities at Lostock are the envy of most schools and the consequence of much needed investment.
So Monday’s decision will be a bitter pill to swallow and we will want to continue to fight to ensure the best possible outcomes and facilities for our area’s children.
