Labour run Wigan council has been slated by literacy charity Beanstalk after it was discovered nearly 400 children were going to secondary school who did not meet basic minimum requirement of their age group
Amy Lewis, Beanstalk area manager for the North West, said: “It is truly shocking that so many children leave primary school unable to read confidently. We are urgently looking for more volunteer reading helpers to provide vital one-to-one support in local schools.
Wigan Council’s education department refused to comment on the issue.
Trust the Labour party on education? 40 years in control of education in Wigan and they fail 400 children this year alone.
Full story here...
http://www.wigantoday.net/news/education/hundreds-of-children-fail-to-reach-minimum-literacy-standard-1-6863160
Saturday, 25 October 2014
Monday, 20 October 2014
Labour run Wigan Council closes more care centres - profits before care
Despite the objections of disabled residents, Labour run Wigan Council has continued to bash away at the services it provides to the most vulnerable in our community.
Incredibly the council has decided to close day centres in Wigan borough to improve social isolation and loneliness, with even more work being put out to private companies.
The following will remain open;
Central Day Centre,
Etherstone Day Centre,
Broadmead Day Centre,
Selkirk hub,
Hunter Lodge Day Centre
But the following will close;
Fourways Day Centre and Assessment Centre in Tyldesley
Heath Road Day Centre in Ashton-in-Makerfield
Heathside Day Centre in Leigh.
The Ullswater service, which currently runs from Broadmead, will also stop running
Future Steps and Chapter One, services currently delivered by Wigan Council, will be put out to tender, further increasing the use of private companies by the Council to deliver care.
Cllr Keith Cunliffe, cabinet member for adult social care and health at Wigan Council (you may remember him, the heavy smoker who led the Councils stop smoking campaign) has admitted that the council will save money and it was one of the reasons for the change.
He also admitted, as he has done so before, that many of the buildings Labour run Wigan council operates from, are old and not fit for purpose.
UKIP Wigan opposes the use of private companies to deliver care for profits and says services for the elderly and disabled should be improved on and not closed.
Incredibly the council has decided to close day centres in Wigan borough to improve social isolation and loneliness, with even more work being put out to private companies.
The following will remain open;
Central Day Centre,
Etherstone Day Centre,
Broadmead Day Centre,
Selkirk hub,
Hunter Lodge Day Centre
But the following will close;
Fourways Day Centre and Assessment Centre in Tyldesley
Heath Road Day Centre in Ashton-in-Makerfield
Heathside Day Centre in Leigh.
The Ullswater service, which currently runs from Broadmead, will also stop running
Future Steps and Chapter One, services currently delivered by Wigan Council, will be put out to tender, further increasing the use of private companies by the Council to deliver care.
Cllr Keith Cunliffe, cabinet member for adult social care and health at Wigan Council (you may remember him, the heavy smoker who led the Councils stop smoking campaign) has admitted that the council will save money and it was one of the reasons for the change.
He also admitted, as he has done so before, that many of the buildings Labour run Wigan council operates from, are old and not fit for purpose.
Sunday, 19 October 2014
Get Ukip!
Well said.....
Get Ukip
Published on the 18 October 2014 14:50
CONGRATULATIONS to Ukip for securing their first MP and just missing out on a second in a Labour heartland.
The best the Tories can do is not fight Ukip on their policies, but use the mantra “Vote Ukip, get Miliband” instead. The only reason the Tories can use this is that under the present system (with the current exception of a coalition government) we are given a choice of a Labour or Conservative government. They take it in turns and as a result largely take us for granted and do what’s best in politicians’ interests, not ours.
What would be fair is, of course, full proportional representation. Then every vote cast actually contributes towards what we the people want. Under full PR, there is no such thing as a ‘wasted vote’.
Research in the marginal seats shows that Labour is as much at risk as the Tories from Ukip. So what I say is “Vote Ukip, get Ukip”. Only Ukip gives us any hope of electoral reform, which is actually the biggest issue in politics as it would guarantee that everyone is heard.
Then the Tories would have to fight elections on policies as opposed to pathetic scaremongering.
Then Labour would not be able to sit back and hope that Ukip will hand them an undeserved victory on a plate.
Phillip Smith
address supplied
Get Ukip
Published on the 18 October 2014 14:50
CONGRATULATIONS to Ukip for securing their first MP and just missing out on a second in a Labour heartland.
The best the Tories can do is not fight Ukip on their policies, but use the mantra “Vote Ukip, get Miliband” instead. The only reason the Tories can use this is that under the present system (with the current exception of a coalition government) we are given a choice of a Labour or Conservative government. They take it in turns and as a result largely take us for granted and do what’s best in politicians’ interests, not ours.
What would be fair is, of course, full proportional representation. Then every vote cast actually contributes towards what we the people want. Under full PR, there is no such thing as a ‘wasted vote’.
Research in the marginal seats shows that Labour is as much at risk as the Tories from Ukip. So what I say is “Vote Ukip, get Ukip”. Only Ukip gives us any hope of electoral reform, which is actually the biggest issue in politics as it would guarantee that everyone is heard.
Then the Tories would have to fight elections on policies as opposed to pathetic scaremongering.
Then Labour would not be able to sit back and hope that Ukip will hand them an undeserved victory on a plate.
Phillip Smith
address supplied
Sunday, 5 October 2014
Scandal hits Wigan Councillors again
It seems they are never out of the news for some misdemeanour or other.
The latest embarrassment to hit Wigan Council is that it has been claimed that 2 Labour Councillors have stopped living in the Borough sometime ago, yet continue to claim thousands of pounds in allowances.
It's claimed that Cllr Joy Birch has even left the country and has been living in Ireland but she continued to receive thousands in council payments.
Cllr Kelly Ready is believed to be in Blackpool. Although she attends town hall meetings, residents say she hasn't been seen in the Orrell ward for sometime (a fellow Labour Councillor makes no reference to her attending any surgeries in the Ward). Out and about in Orrell, her ward residents have complained to UKIP that calls to Cllr Ready go unanswered with issues they raise not being dealt with.
Lord Smith makes no comment..
We put to Lord Smith of Leigh, leader of the Labour run Council to confirm if the locations of his Councillors were true, he made no comment. Readers can draw their own conclusions but one Councillor has now resigned according to another Wigan Councillors blog www.garethfairhurst.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/labour-cllr-lives-in-ireland.html
If this information is correct, (although not illegal) it is yet another example of the poor standards we are seeing from the Council and the Labour party in particular. If Councillors are unable to complete their functions, then the should not be making money for the jobs they are suppose to do.
This isn't the first time this has happened believe it or not, the Lib Dems had two Wigan Councillors move to Australia, see the story here http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/aussie-based-councillors-paid-allowances-1-172109
Lord Smith couldn't have said it better, when speaking at the time he said;
"This is a disgrace and Councillors should not be paid if they are not doing their important council work"
"In addition to the financial scandal, these Councillors are not representing the interests of the public who elect them."
"The public should ask their candidates for council seats, will they attend regularly to act on behalf of their constituents."
We also remind Lord Smith that he opposed with other Labour Councillors UKIP's policy of cutting back on Councillors to save money. Labour Councillors claimed that the work they have to do requires three Councillors for each ward.
Clearly that's not true.
Cllr Ready's phone goes to an answering machine, whilst Cllr Birch's phone is already disconnected. So we ask Lord Smith;
Why didn't Cllr Birch stand down when she left the country.
Who knew in the Labour party she had moved away, was she told by the Labour party not to stand down?
Where exactly is Cllr Ready now? Has she also been told to attend council meetings to prevent a by election?
Which of his other Labour Councillors live outside the borough?
The latest embarrassment to hit Wigan Council is that it has been claimed that 2 Labour Councillors have stopped living in the Borough sometime ago, yet continue to claim thousands of pounds in allowances.
It's claimed that Cllr Joy Birch has even left the country and has been living in Ireland but she continued to receive thousands in council payments.
Cllr Kelly Ready is believed to be in Blackpool. Although she attends town hall meetings, residents say she hasn't been seen in the Orrell ward for sometime (a fellow Labour Councillor makes no reference to her attending any surgeries in the Ward). Out and about in Orrell, her ward residents have complained to UKIP that calls to Cllr Ready go unanswered with issues they raise not being dealt with.
Lord Smith makes no comment..
We put to Lord Smith of Leigh, leader of the Labour run Council to confirm if the locations of his Councillors were true, he made no comment. Readers can draw their own conclusions but one Councillor has now resigned according to another Wigan Councillors blog www.garethfairhurst.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/labour-cllr-lives-in-ireland.html
If this information is correct, (although not illegal) it is yet another example of the poor standards we are seeing from the Council and the Labour party in particular. If Councillors are unable to complete their functions, then the should not be making money for the jobs they are suppose to do.
This isn't the first time this has happened believe it or not, the Lib Dems had two Wigan Councillors move to Australia, see the story here http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/aussie-based-councillors-paid-allowances-1-172109
Lord Smith couldn't have said it better, when speaking at the time he said;
"This is a disgrace and Councillors should not be paid if they are not doing their important council work"
"In addition to the financial scandal, these Councillors are not representing the interests of the public who elect them."
"The public should ask their candidates for council seats, will they attend regularly to act on behalf of their constituents."
We also remind Lord Smith that he opposed with other Labour Councillors UKIP's policy of cutting back on Councillors to save money. Labour Councillors claimed that the work they have to do requires three Councillors for each ward.
Clearly that's not true.
Cllr Ready's phone goes to an answering machine, whilst Cllr Birch's phone is already disconnected. So we ask Lord Smith;
Why didn't Cllr Birch stand down when she left the country.
Who knew in the Labour party she had moved away, was she told by the Labour party not to stand down?
Where exactly is Cllr Ready now? Has she also been told to attend council meetings to prevent a by election?
Which of his other Labour Councillors live outside the borough?
Saturday, 27 September 2014
We smell a Rat (run) - incompetent Wigan council strikes again
7 years ago Wigan Council closed the right hand turn into clapgate lane from the A49 at the Marus Bridge roundabout (see orginal story here). At a cost of thousands the council justified the decision on safety grounds.
Now the council is to put the junction back in its original form, wasting tens of thousands of taxpayers money in doing so ....
Plans can be found here
Now the council is to put the junction back in its original form, wasting tens of thousands of taxpayers money in doing so ....
Plans can be found here
Friday, 26 September 2014
Labour run Wigan Council admits to hacking 3 Councillors e-mails
If you're ever complained to your Councillor by e-mail or telephone regarding a confidential issue or complained about staff, or services, there's a chance that Wigan Council staff may also have been reading your correspondence.
Wigan Council refused to admit that its staff were hacking peoples e-mails.
After failing to provide the information for 7 months an intervention by the ICO has forced Wigan Council to disclose the information;
Wigan Council have finally admitted to hacking 3 Councillors IT, but fail to identify who they have hacked, how often or who authorised it....
The Council admits it keeps no records of dates and number of times the Councillors records are accessed.
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 5:51 PM
Wigan Council refused to admit that its staff were hacking peoples e-mails.
After failing to provide the information for 7 months an intervention by the ICO has forced Wigan Council to disclose the information;
Wigan Council have finally admitted to hacking 3 Councillors IT, but fail to identify who they have hacked, how often or who authorised it....
The Council admits it keeps no records of dates and number of times the Councillors records are accessed.
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 5:51 PM
Subject: Freedom of Information Requests - ID 5335
I am writing to respond to
your freedom of information request This request has
been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The response to
your request is detailed below.
Examination of how the Council maintained
network and supported devices are utilised is periodically performed by Internal
Audit to assess all staff and members compliance with the Council's Acceptable
Use of ICT and IT Security policies. This includes appropriate examination of
logs in relation to network security, internet, emails and text messages.
Authorisation to perform these functions is contained within the Constitution.
Where any suspected irregularities are identified then further detailed
investigations are conducted and reported accordingly. Internal Audit activities
are reported 6 monthly to the Audit, Governance and Improvement Review Committee
and also in the Council's statutory disclosure document.
In addition to these planned
reviews, ad hoc investigations are also performed where there is suspected
misuse of Council provided IT based services that could lead to disciplinary
action against officers and/or Members and/or referral to the Police for
prosecution where appropriate.
As outlined in your request I
can provide the following information.
Access to specific members
records was as follows:
2012/13 - 2 members
2013/14 - 1 additional
member
The reason for access to all
records was due to investigations.
There is no record maintained
of the exact dates and number of times records are accessed as all occasions
would have been required for the purpose of the investigations.
If you are unhappy with any aspect of this response, an independent
senior officer will review this decision. Please let me know if you would like
to arrange this.You can also complain to the
Information Commissioner, who is the regulator for Freedom of Information. His
website is www.informationcommisioner.gov.uk
and his helpline number is 0303 1231113.
His staff may ask you to
exhaust our internal complaints procedure if you choose to complain to his
office now.
May I take this opportunity to
apologise for the delay in responding to your request, this is due to the high
volumes currently being received.
Yours Sincerely
Data Protection and Freedom of Information OfficerResources Directorate
Legal & Risk
Wigan Council
Town Hall
Wigan
WN1 1YN
x
Wigan Council refuses to call on Councillors accessing pornography on Council laptops & mobile phones to resign.
Many will know the story of ‘Porno Bob’ also known as Wigan Cllr Robert Bleakley and his accessing of pornography on his taxpayer funded mobile phone and laptop.
WIGAN COUNCILLOR SHAME
The ruling Labour party on Wigan Council tabled a motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday 24th Sept 2014 calling on Cllr Bleakley to resign, which passed unanimously.
However (and was unreported in the media) wanting to go one better, independent Cllr Garth Fairhurst tabled a motion calling for all Wigan Councillors who accessed pornography to be called on to resign. He also called for resignations if they were found to have misused taxpayer’s money in claiming expenses.
Cllr Fairhurst said ‘ This way the Council would send out a clear message that we as a Council would not tolerate porn on Council equipment like their, laptops, Blackberry's or iPads’
Incredibly the ruling Labour party opposed this and voted it down, in effect giving Councillors the green light to access pornography and fiddle expenses without facing any kind of censure by the Council.
This raises the question that UKIP wanting answering; have Labour party Councillors also been accessing pornography and abusing their telephones and are they concerned that they will be caught doing so in the near future?
Wigan Labour party do have a history of this kind of thing (accessing child pornography, expense scandals and racism) and many will suspect that they haven’t identified other councillors for political reasons.
Even Cllr Fairhurst said; ‘I can only draw the conclusion that Labour are not bothered about their Cllrs that have porn on their Laptops. That is disgusting and now Labour have let Standards continue to be in the gutter by voting against the motion. It seems to me that Labour don't mind their Cllrs to misuse their Council Equipment for accessing porn otherwise they would have voted with my motion’
http://garethfairhurst.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/labour-vote-against-banning-porn-on.html
WIGAN COUNCILLOR SHAME
The ruling Labour party on Wigan Council tabled a motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday 24th Sept 2014 calling on Cllr Bleakley to resign, which passed unanimously.
However (and was unreported in the media) wanting to go one better, independent Cllr Garth Fairhurst tabled a motion calling for all Wigan Councillors who accessed pornography to be called on to resign. He also called for resignations if they were found to have misused taxpayer’s money in claiming expenses.
Cllr Fairhurst said ‘ This way the Council would send out a clear message that we as a Council would not tolerate porn on Council equipment like their, laptops, Blackberry's or iPads’
Incredibly the ruling Labour party opposed this and voted it down, in effect giving Councillors the green light to access pornography and fiddle expenses without facing any kind of censure by the Council.
This raises the question that UKIP wanting answering; have Labour party Councillors also been accessing pornography and abusing their telephones and are they concerned that they will be caught doing so in the near future?
Wigan Labour party do have a history of this kind of thing (accessing child pornography, expense scandals and racism) and many will suspect that they haven’t identified other councillors for political reasons.
Even Cllr Fairhurst said; ‘I can only draw the conclusion that Labour are not bothered about their Cllrs that have porn on their Laptops. That is disgusting and now Labour have let Standards continue to be in the gutter by voting against the motion. It seems to me that Labour don't mind their Cllrs to misuse their Council Equipment for accessing porn otherwise they would have voted with my motion’
http://garethfairhurst.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/labour-vote-against-banning-porn-on.html
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