More questions...

By Liam Murphy on Nov 17, 09 09:34 PM

WIRRAL Council's borough solicitor faces yet another missive from Tory group leader Jeff Green about "who new what and when they knew it" over the council's sudden decision to abandon its library closure plans.

The email is copied in full, below.

But some key questions raised by Cllr Green include why the council kept quiet about the imminence of the expected announcement by the Secretary of State for Culture about the library closure report carried out by Sue Charteris.

The email:

Subject: RE: Extraordinary Council - 12 October 2009

Dear Mr Norman

Thank you for your response which starts to shine a light on who new what and when they knew it. Unfortunately there are still a number of issues, some arising from your latest response, which raise matters I would appreciate a response to.

Given you have told me that the Labour/Liberal Democrat Administration new on Tuesday the 29th September that, based on Sue Charteris's report (which they had seen) the Minister was expected to sign off the decision regarding the Labour/Liberal Democrat Administration's Library closure plan that day (the 29th) and that it was 70% likely that an announcement would be made on Thursday 1st October. Can I ask you who decided that Lesley, other members of the Council, the Wirral public and I should not be told about the imminence of a decision until now?

Having confirmed that a midnight meeting between Officers of the Council and Labour/Liberal Democrat Councillors (and their staff I presume) did take place (as a result of the communication from the DCMS) and which Officers were present can you, for the sake of clarity regarding who was shown a copy of Sue Charteris's report and its recommendations, tell me which members of the Cabinet were present at this meeting and whether anyone who you had not given a copy of the report to was in attendance?

Can I ask why you assert that it is down to me to raise the issue of whether any of those members of the Cabinet who you gave a copy of Sue Charteris's report to with 'the exceptional nature of the obligation of confidentiality attached to it' showed it to anyone else? Can you tell me whether Cllr's Foulkes, Davies, Holbrook and Gardiner have shown a copy of the report to anyone you did not give a copy to?

Given the above, will you at last give me a complete, honest and final accounting of who has been deemed suitable, by you, the people you gave a copy of the report to or the Labour/Liberal Democrat Administration, to see Sue Charteris's, draft report for fact checking or other purposes?

You mention that Emma Degg took no part in the drafting of the Labour/Liberal Democrat political press release. Can you tell me exactly what role the Council's Press and PR Department played in facilitating the production of and circulating the content of their 'political' press release, and whether Cllr Foulkes asked for or received any help from the Council's Press and Public Relations Department to assist him get the content of his political press release out to the media including before and during his interview with Radio Merseyside?

In your reply you choose to speak 'on behalf of all your colleagues' and state that you 'still believe you have acted properly and fairly'. Putting aside the telling of untruths to me by a number of your colleagues for one second, do you still believe that this matter has been dealt with, with the honesty, impartiality and integrity the Wirral public and their elected representatives have a right to expect from Officers of the Council? Can you share with me your working definition of impartiality and integrity?

Jeff Green
Leader Wirral Conservative Group