Watchdog finds fault in
schools review process
by David Skentelbery
A WORKING group set up to examine public consultation on the controversial review of secondary education in Warrington has found a number of shortcomings in the way it was carried out.
In particularly they feel the public consultation process took place over a relatively short period of time ? including several weeks during the summer holiday period.
Greater emphasis should have been placed on that fact that the wider community impact of any decision would be one of the criteria used in reaching the decision.
And although education officers handled consultation sessions well, the fact that they were called upon to organise, answer questions and facilitate the sessions could have created the impressions that they were less objective than would have been liked.
The working group was set up by the council to investigate consultation procedures. It was chaired by former education chief Coun Colin Froggatt and also included councillors Maureen Banner, Celia Jordan and Bernard Long, supported by officers.
It met three times and considered evidence relating to consultation literature, procedures at public meetings, the number of people attending meetings, costs and the responses received during the process.
It did not consider the decisions themselves.
The group noted that projected pupils numbers at each school up to the year 2013 were not included in the consultation literature and some members felt if the figures had been included it would have made the documents more informative.
Members thought the planned structure of the consultation worked well, but that it was unfortunate that at some meetings people did not split up into smaller, informal groups. However, this was at the request of some members of the audience.
The working group felt that when consultation was carried out in future it should be over a longer period of time and, where possible, for all the consultation to take place during term time.
However, members concluded that while improvements could have been made, the consultation was handled openly and honestly, in sometimes trying circumstances.
The review?s conclusion was that a ?18 million new high school should be built at Culcheth by September 2009. William Beamont High will be replaced between 2010 and 2016. A decision has been put off on proposals for amalgamate Padgate and Woolston high schools.
Musical duo with their
eyes on success
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON music making duo, Philip Roberts and Sonya Dowd have their eyes fixed on success. Having just graduated in July from Sir Paul McCartney’s theatre school – LIPA -with a first class honours degree in music, Philip from Winwick believes that by joining forces with vocal talent Sonya, from Burtonwood, the two have what it takes. Meeting three years ago at college, Philip and Sonya have both already gained invaluable experience from working in various pubs, clubs and holiday villages. Sonya began singing when she was eight, and was performing three 20-minute slots at Masonic Lodge dinners at the age of 15. Locally, their talents have already been on show in the town centre at Chicago Rock in the “Rock Idol” competition. However, both Philip and Sonya are looking for a slightly different audience. Philip said: “We have a mixed repertoire but do particularly enjoy performing our jazzy easy listening sets which seem to go down well as background music for dinner functions” To find out more about Philip and Sony you can contact them viawww.snatchmusicuk.com
Army sponsors women’s
student soccer team
A WOMEN?S student football team at Warrington has won a sponsorship deal with the Army.
Priestley College’s Ladies Football Team, which formed 12 months ago, has signed the deal with the local Army careers office.
The Army has pledged ?500 to help buy a new playing strip and training equipment for the women who are now competing in the British College Sport North West Women’s seven-a-side league against other sides from sixth form colleges.
Players will wear the predominantly blue strip with the Army’s “Be the Best” logo on the front of the shirts.
Mike Rutherford from the Army careers office said: “We were really happy to help support this project and give our backing to female football in the town. Having watched the side train I’m sure the team will do well this year.”
Sports tutor and coach Danielle Toward said: “Working with the Army on this project is an ideal relationship for us at a time when we are obviously promoting female football on campus, while the Army are also keen to promote careers to our sports students.”
Police seek couple who
escaped restaurant raid
by David Skentelbery
POLICE at Warrington are urgently trying to trace a man and a woman who may have vital information about an armed robbery at a fast food outlet in the town.
The couple were in the Burger King restaurant at Delph Lane, Winwick Quay, Warrington when the raid took place.
But staff managed to usher them out of the premises during the raid ? and they were not see again.
Police believe the couple may have seen something which could help their investigation.
The raid took place just after 10pm on September 28. A man entered the restaurant brandishing a handgun with a long barrel, threatened staff and fired several shots at the safe.
He demanded cash ? and left carrying a quantity of cash. No-one was hurt but the staff were left badly shaken.
The man was about 5ft 8-9 inches tall, of slim build and was wearing a mask or a hat and scarf to conceal his face. He was wearing dark clothing.
Police are now linking the raid with a similar one at a McDonald?s outlet in Holly Road, Macclesfield two days later.
Anyone who can help ? including the couple ushered out by staff ? is asked to call police on 0845 458 0000.
Mobile service will
offer benefits advice
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE with queries about benefits and Council Tax at Warrington will be able to receive advice at home ? thanks to a new mobile service initiated by the borough council.
The borough council’s revenues and benefits department has given a ?32,000 contract to Capita Mobile Solutions to assist.
It will provide the “Streetwise” revenues and benefits modules from this autumn, and is partly funded for the council by the Department for Work and Pensions’ Performance Standards fund.
Mobile staff will be provided with an easy-to-use device to update information, such as personal details and payments electronically when on site, for example at someone’s home.
The core “back office” revenues and benefits management systems will be updated over a secure, wireless connection, removing the need for the worker to return to the office.
It will enable the council to make more visits and increase efficiency.
Phil Kennedy, head of revenues and benefits, said: “This will be the first fully mobile initiative to be in operation within the council and we anticipate it will deliver real improvements for all.”
