Dave's Knowsley diary

Dec 16th - Another evening seminar this time to discuss the finance position of the council and the initial settlement from Government for 2005/06 budget, Merseyside councils generally have not done so well this year round and we will face some challenges to set a balanced budget for next year.

Dec 15th - Four more performance meetngs today with Environmental Services, Leisure, Community Safety and Education followed by a full Council meeting in the evening and farewell drinks afterward with the outgoing Chief Executive Steve Gallagher who leaves Knowsley in January.

Dec 14th - Two scrutiny working group meetings with New Hutte school's Christmas pantomine sandwiched between them! Finished the day with an evening carol concert at the Huyton Suite, the children performed brialliantly and it is great to see their llittle faces so happy!

Dec 13th - Two more Christingle concerts at Plantation School today and a Finance committee meeting! A strange mix!!

Dec 10th - The annual Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performance in Halewood, playing with a choir made up of local school children at Halewood Leisure Centre, as usual a fantastic evening with its usual festive flavour!

Dec 10th - A meeting with the Head and Chair of Governors at Halewood Comprehensive this afternoon to discuss concerns that have been raised with me by several local residents in recent weeks, very productve meeting and I am grateful to know the concerns I raised are being taken seriously and that there are measures in place to tackle the issues.

Dec 9th - Round two of Chief Officers meetings, today we look at how the Corporate & Customer Services and Social Services areas are performing. Halewood Town Council meeting in the evening at Hollies Hall followed by drinks and nibbles with the staff, a chane to say thank you to them for their hard work,

Dec 8th - The first of a series of meetings with Chief Officers started today giving Cllr Ian Smith and myself the opportunity to review and challenge each departments performance and financial position, today we met with the regeneration and planning department.

Dec 7th - Halewood Area Forum meeting, another opportunity to hear what local residents are currently concerned about and to raise some other issues with Council officers, we agreed to form a steering group to look at the Torrington Drive area and future investment to tackle the estates problems.

Dec 6th - The first of a series of Christmas events this week with the Nursery concert at Plantatio School, as expected a thoroughly enjoyable event. Evening meeting at Huyton for a Crime and Disorder seminar.

Dec 4th - Another dinner with Saj Karrim MEP, this time he was our guest speaker at the Knowsley South Annual Dinner at Prescot Leisure Centre!

Dec 3rd - Attended an Thank You event for the Asian community in Manchester with Saj Karrim the recently elected MEP for the North West who joined Chris Davies as the second Lib Dem MEP for the region. Maintaining good relationships with our team of MEP's can be very useful in some of the constituency issues that arise from time to time, particularly in relatoin to EU legislation.

Dec 2nd - A Special meeting of Halewood Town Council to discus a bid for support from the Quality Town Fund, a special one off fund for the time being available to Quality Town Council's to improve services and facilities in their area. Hopefully we will be successful!!

Dec 1st - A wonderful afternoon at Plantation School where the Reception class were performing Humph the Camel as part of the schools various Christmas peformances, the children were brilliant and their mums and dads were very proud of them and rightly so!!

Nov 30th - Attented a constituency meeting in the evening where I was delighted and honoured to have been selected to be the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in Knowsley South for the next General Election. If I am subsequently adopted when the campaign starts it will be the second time I have stood against the current MP, Eddie O'Hara, whose record in my opinion warrants close scrutiny.

For example Mr O'Hara supprted the Government's plans to introduce Student top up fees despite opposing every motion against them up until the vote, a disgraceful u-turn in my view. I believe the people of Knowsley South deserve an MP who will fight for them and their issues and concerns and not just be another puppet for New Labour.

Nov 30th - Attended New Hutte Primary School Governors meeting, we are all still very disappointed about the decision to amalgamate the school with Roseheath on the Roseheath site but recognise this is probably the most logical solution.

It is vital though that a strategy to provide alternative resources for the Torrington Drive area is developed although we were surprised to learn that the Torrington Drive Steering Group has appeared on the agenda for the next Halewood Area Forum without any consultation with elected members, another officer led initiative I wonder??

Nov 29th - Attende the launch of Knowsley's Care & Repair service provided by Arena. Care & Repair is a service for older, diabled or vulnerable people and families on low incomes who own their own homes or live in privately rented accommodation and wish to repair, improve or adapt their homes. Care & Repair has been set up to assist people to make the necessary repairs, improvements or adaptations to help them stay in their home in a healthy, safe and comfortable environment. A welcome new service for Knowsley residents.