It’s not just that [...]]]> According to GMB, Trafford’s Chief Executive was paid an annualised salary of £170,000 last year, which makes her one of the lower paid chief execs in the North West. But it’s hard not to agree with the GMB’s view that the pay levels for senior directors in local government have become unsupportable.

It’s not just that the ethos of public service is degraded by such pay levels, it’s the extent to which the pay of chief executives has pulled the wage levels of others at the next level up in their wake. There are many brilliant managers in local government but we still seem to supplement through the constant use of consultants.

I’m pleased the GMB have raised this. We’ll have to see whether councils are brave enough to take the issue on.
GMB Latest Pay of Chief Executives

Responses to the [...]]]> 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?

Anyway, it’s heavy stuff and you’ll have your own views. I’d be interested in hearing them.
link to localgovernment channel

We’re still here. I’m currently without access to Urmston.net though.

Mike

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 [...]]]> 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.

See video

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 [...]]]> 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:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/101320367095207211267/RaglanRoadPotholes?feat=directlink

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.

Regards

Mike Cordingley
Councillor for Gorse Hill

0161 865 9228

www.gorsehill-labour.co.uk

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 [...]]]> Dear Councillor / Colleague -

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