Councillors turn down pay
rise – and leader takes a cut
by David Skentelbery
COUNCILLORS at Warrington have turned down a pay rise – and the borough council leader is to take a voluntary pay cut.
An independent panel had recommended a package of increases which would have cost ?647,308 – an increase of 6.1 per cent.
Members’ basic allowance would have risen by 1.88 per cent to ?7,488.
But the authority – run by a Lib Dem-Conservative alliance – is currently forecasting a overspend of more than ?770,000 for the year and leader Coun Ian Marks said: “At a time when we are asking council departments to look very carefully at their own budgets, it would be unacceptable for councillors to accept a recommendation that gives an increase in their own allowances.”
Labour leader Coun Terry O’Neill agreed that the pay rises should not be accepted.
He said: “Anyone who has been a councillor for five years or more knows we don’t do it for the money.”
But he warned that if councillors were to repeatedly refuse pay rises they would fall behind other authorities and there could be difficulties attracting the right calibre of person.
Although the independent panel recommended increases for other members, they suggested cutting the leader’s allowance from ?19,144 to ?15,750.
Coun Marks said: “The panel thinks the leader’s allowance should be reduced so I will not be claiming my full allowance next year.”
The council also agreed that members should not travel first class when they went outside the borough by train.
Students near
fundraising target
by Lesley Wilkinson
A GROUP of Warrington students have almost reached their fundraising target for an educational trip to Kenya in February.
The youngsters from Priestley College each have to raise ?1,000 towards their trip to the East African Rift Valley where they will complete a range of coursework and cultural exercises.
Their latest fund raising was a series of events during the final week of term with cake sales, a guitar challenge and henna tattoos on offer.
The trip is part of the school’s on-going Runo School Appeal. The college and its partners have already sent ?4,000 to Runo and progress has been made since the college last visited in 2005.
Marketing officer Nat Ashurst said: “Our students appear to have been up half the night to produce a range of tasty treats for the college community.” “The college is eager to return to Kenya in February to see just how much of an impact the Runo School Appeal has made on the lives of those a lot less fortunate than ourselves. It’s an important message at a time of year when these issues are always in the mind.”
Four teenagers charged
with village affray
by staff reporter
FOUR teenage youths have been charged with affray following an incident at Culcheth last month when a householder used a camcorder to film vandals attacking his property.
During the incident, it is alleged the offenders caused criminal damage and acted violently.
Insp Steve Precious, who is in charge of the Neighbourhood Policing Unit for the Culcheth area of Warrington, said: “It is important to point out that the four individuals charged in relation to this incident are not from the Culcheth area.
“In general, significant progress has been made in reducing anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the village of Culcheth.
“This has been achieved through neighbourhood policing in consultation with the local community at Community Action Meetings.”
He added: “Although anti-social behaviour remains a concern of residents along with speeding and parking, the recent images portrayed in the media are not indicative of life in Culcheth.
“This is borne out by recent public perception survey results for Culcheth which show that the fear of anti-social behaviour has fallen by more than 13 per cent and fear of crime in general has fallen by more than 12 per cent.
“While this is very encouraging, we are not complacent and will continue to work with our partners and the community to address local issues.”
Neighbour saves
flat from blaze
by David Skentelbery
A NEIGHBOUR saved a flat from a potential serious fire in the early hours of today.
Smelling smoke coming from the flat above his own home in Banks Crescent, Latchford, Warrington, the man got a ladder, gained entry to the upstairs and tackled the blaze in the kitchen.
By the time fire crews reached the scene, the fire had been extinguished and the cooker turned off.
There was a limited amount of smoke damage in the kitchen, but no damage to the rest of the flat. The occupier was asleep in bed throughout the incident.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The fire was caused by a pan left on the cooker. But the neighbour managed to prevent it from getting out of control.”
In a separate incident, firefighters went to a flat in Winifred Street, Warrington where a discarded cigarette end caused a fire in a tray of cat litter. There was no damage to the property.
Holly has one special
wish for Christmas
by Mark Hemmings
A YOUNG woman from Warrington has just one item on her Christmas gift list ? a new kidney.
Holly Shaw, aged 19, from Westbrook suffers from kidney failure and has been on the waiting list for a kidney transplant for 16 months.
Her illness means she has to spend three days a week in hospital attached to a dialysis machine and constantly suffers from tiredness and nausea.
She said: “If I could have one wish this Christmas it would be to have my health and freedom back. The only possibility of this is if I receive a donor kidney, which would be the greatest gift I could get”
Holly, a student doing a degree in early childhood studies at the Warrington Campus of Chester University, was taken ill suddenly two Christmas’ ago and rushed into hospital. There she was diagnosed as having End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF) and needed to go on dialysis immediately. She was placed on the transplant waiting list a few months later.
She currently spends three days a week in hospital on dialysis and is only allowed to drink 500ml of fluid per day. She recently featured in a video released by the Live Life Then Give Life Campaign to raise awareness of the shortage of registered organ donors in the UK.
Holly said: “Dialysis is a life saver but also a life sentence. A transplant would give me back my life. I wouldn’t have to do the treatment but most of all I would just feel normal and well again.”
This Christmas more than 8,000 people in the UK need an organ transplant to save or radically improve their lives. However due to the chronic shortage of donors, 450 people die each year waiting. The ever growing demand for transplants means that waiting lists are rising each year.
Holly is backing the UK’s “Live Life Then Give Life Campaign” in asking everyone to show the true spirit of Christmas by signing onto the NHS Organ Donor Register this week. People can do this online by visiting www.uktransplant.org.uk or by phoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400. For more information on the Live Life Then Give Life Campaign visit www.livelifethengivelife.co.uk
Late night buses to
get revellers home
by John Hendon
A SPECIAL late night bus service has been launched to provide Warrington?s revellers with a safe, cost effective journey home during Christmas and the New Year.
Warrington Borough Transport is operating the service, which has been praised by local police, every Friday and Saturday, plus Christmas Eve and New Year?s Eve. Buses will leave Bridge Street regularly, between 1:30am and 3:30am, with a flat fare of just ?2 (?3 Christmas Eve and New Year?s Eve).
Police spokesman Simon Moodley said: ?The late
night buses provide a cheap, safe journey home. The regular service helps people easily and affordably get home, which in turn helps clear the town centre, therefore minimising the risk of disturbances and violence.?
Bus marshals have been recruited to be on duty in Bridge Street to assist late night passengers and will be travelling on every bus, in addition to the on-board CCTV.
WBT chairman Les Hoyle said: ?The safety of our passengers is of paramount importance. Night buses will provide town centre visitors with safe, plentiful and cost effective transport home.
?We are committed to providing the best possible transport service for the people of Warrington and are delighted to be working with several partners on this project.?
Warrington?s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Warrington Licensees, Cheshire Police, Stockton Heath Parish Council and Birchwood Town Council are all backing the service.
The service provides links to Penketh, Great Sankey, Dallam, Bewsey, Orford, Longford, Stockton Heath, Padgate, Grappenhall, Woolston, Westy, Cinnamon Brow, Locking Stumps, Birchwood, Oakwood and Gorse Covert. A shuttle bus service will link Stockton Heath and the town centre between 11:30pm and 1:30am.
Parish and town councils
to be given more powers
by Lesley Wilkinson
NEW powers may be given to town and parish councils who are considered “closer to the action” on local issues.
Warrington Borough Council has written to all town and parish councils in the area outlining plans to enhance their powers in their own neighbourhoods.
Plans are to allow them more decision-making powers and to deliver a range of services such as street cleaning, street lighting and minor road maintenance, which are currently provided by the borough council.
The borough council believes the local councils are better placed to address certain issues and problems within communities, since they are “closer to the action” and have the potential to exert more influence this way.
Consultation between the borough council and town and parish councils will take place in a workshop planned for the New Year. Councils can opt in or opt out of the new powers and choose the level of responsibility they decide to take.
Coun Ian Marks, leader of the borough council, said: “Parish and town councils are a valuable but under-used resource and we are fortunate that we have so many that make a major contribution to life in their areas.
“Many have the potential and the ambition to take on even wider roles and the council is looking forward to developing this together with the town and parish councils.”
Praise for town’s
parenting protocols
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SCHEME to deal with youngsters with attendance or behaviour problems at schools in Warrington has been praised.
Warrington Borough Council’s protocols regarding Parenting Contracts and Parenting Orders have received national recognition from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
The protocols have been used on the DfES website as an example of good practice.
The contracts are used when a pupil’s attendance or behaviour is a cause for concern and parenting is a contributory factor.
The documents provide clear guidance to education welfare officers, other local authority staff and school staff who can work together to offer support to parents via the agreements made in a Parenting Contract.
Once a contract has been agreed the group meets regularly to review progress.
Warrington has been praised before as last year the DfES hailed the Council’s Child Protection Training Pack for Schools as national good practice.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, Executive Board member for children’s services, said: “Yet again Warrington is leading the way in best practice. This is a testament to all the hard work put in by all involved and it clearly demonstrates our commitment to every child in Warrington.”
Wolfie tackles Everest
by James Balme
POPULAR Warrington Wolves mascot Wolfie is flexing his muscles in Warrington town centre today, Wednesday, helping raise funds for the Wolves Foundation.
Wolfie and members of the public are taking part in a sponsored stepathon, attempting to scale Everest.
The event is being run in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation to promote healthy lifestyles.
[ 21.12.2006, 17:21: Message edited by: DS ]
