Council starts process
to select new chief
by Gary Skentelbery
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THE process to appoint a new chief executive at Warrington Borough Council has now been restarted following the recent elections and selection of an executive board by the controlling Labour group.
Meanwhile interim chief executive David Whitehead, (pictured) who agreed to take on the role following the sudden departure of Bernice Law to team up with former chief Steve Broomhead at the North West Development Agency last October, has continued to press ahead with a modernisation programme.
In an interview with Warrington-Worldwide Mr Whitehead, who joined the authority in 1997 as director of social services, said he could not comment on his future position – but he had taken on the role of interim chief excutive, on the understanding that he would continue with the modernisation programme, which he has now been doing for the past six months.
“This process will continue while it is decided which managers will work in which roles,” he said.
Part of the modernisation programme involves assistant directors being replaced by heads of service.
“There have been times when it has been stated that there was a crisis – but there has never been a crisis,” said Mr Whitehead.
“We are in a town where unemployment is under two per cent, we have the 13th lowest council tax in the country, we have a three star education department, a social services department which has never been below a two star rating and a CPA (Comprehensive Performance Assessment) score just one off being excellent. If that is a crisis there are hundreds of chief executives up and down the country who would love to have it!
“But there is no room to be complacent and that is why we have been pressing ahead with the modernisation programme so we don’t lose any momentum. We have not been standing still and have in fact been increasing the pace of change.
“The number of authorities who can match us on cost and quality of services can be counted on one hand,” added Mr Whithead.
Meanwhile the council has a new executive board which will now decide on the way forward, including making a decision on appointing a Chief Executive.
The Executive Board is: Leader: John Joyce; Deputy Leader: Paul Ross; Resources and Performances: John Morris; Education: Maureen Banner; Social Services and Health: Colin Froggatt; Environment and Regeneration: Terry O’Neil; Neighbourhood Services: John Kerr-Brown; Housing: Pat Wright; Community: Mike Hannon; and Transportation: Linda Dirir.
College raises ?300
for cancer charity
by staff reporter
————————————————-STAFF and students at Priestley College, Warrington, did their bit for charity when they raised a figure close to ?300 after taking part in the “Race for Life” at Heaton Park in Manchester.
The event which is organised annually by Cancer Research UK is used as a vehicle to raise money for research into cancers that affect the female population on a daily basis.
Women of all ages and abilities took part in the 5K race including some gutsy performers from Priestley.
The college’s Early Years and Health and Social Care department led the way with a total of 11 entrants comprising of two tutors, Bev Whittaker and Helen Walker, as well as nine students.
Meanwhile psychology tutor Margaret Southern also took part in the race and raised a total of ?76, a significant contribution to the overall amount.
Helen Walker, who out performed her nearest Priestley rivals was full of praise for the event.
She said: “There was a fantastic atmosphere on the day and a great sense of achievement for all of us following the finish.
“It was all for a very good cause and particularly good for the students, who got chance to work together and have fun on what was a very warm day.”
Picture shows the Priestley College team.
Open day at
historic hall
by David Skentelbery
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AN open day is to be held at Warrington’s Bewsey Old Hall – arguably the town’s most historic building.
Members of the Bewsey Old Hall Conservation Project will be providing costumed guides and organising free, 45-minute tours of the building to show what life there would have been like in the 1600s.
The Grade 2 listed building in Sankey Valley Park boasts a 700-year history which parallels Warrington’s development.
It was visited by James 1 in 1617 and has a long and chequered history.
The building is reputed to be haunted.
Members of the conservation project have been campaigning for nine years to have the hall preserved with community access for the general public.
Two options emerged from an appraisal carried out by owners English Partnerships. One was submitted by Warrington Housing Association and was fully supported by the conservation project. But the other – which involves only residential use – has been adopted by English Partnerships.
Detailed proposals have yet to be put to the borough council but the conservation project says any residential development with community access will not be acceptable.
Restaurant plan
angers villagers
by David Skentelbery
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A PLAN to convert the former Lloyds TSB bank at Culcheth, near Warrington has caused a storm of protest in the village.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council has lodged a strong objection – and there is opposition from 17 neighbouring residents.
They fear noise and disturbance late at night, smells, parking problems and congestion on Warrington Road. They also say there is no need for another restaurant in Culcheth.
The parish council says a restaurant is an inappropriate use for a site so close to houses. They point out that planning consent was given for housing on the site last year – and that this would be a more suitable development.
Councillors say there would be noise from a proposed outside patio and that existing parking in the area is already inadequate, with the Harrow Inn having permission to develop as a family restaurant and already intending to clamp non-customers who use its car park.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved however. They say there will be no significant loss of residential amenity, noise and smell problems can be controlled and existing car parks in the village centre will be able to cope.
A change of use from a bank to a restaurant would not reduce the vitality or viability of Culcheth Shopping Centre.
Families urged to make
fire action plans
by John Hendon
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FAMILIES in Warrington are to be urged to draw up fire action plans – to make sure they can escape if fire breaks out in their home.
Cheshire Fire Service is joining in a Government campaign and try and cut the number of people killed or injured as a result of domestic fires.
The action plan should identify all practical escape routes, keeping exits clear and practising the plan with everyone in the home.
Chief Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: “Many of us know what to do at work if a fire starts, but could you say that about your own home.
“The ‘How will you all get out alive?’ initiative encourages people to make a fire action plan so they know what to do in the event of fire.”
In 2002, seven people were killed and a further 93 injured in domestic fires in Cheshire.
Fire experts say the action plan should identify all escape routes, take everyone in the house into account, make sure everyone knows where door and window keys are kept, ensure exits are kept clear, identify when it’s safer to stay put and include time to practice the plan.
More about fire safety can be found at the website www.firekills
.gov.uk
