Formby First

The Future for Business is Digital

What will Formby be like in the future?

I don't know about you but it's clear we are living through a period of enormous change and upheaval, not least of it in the world of work and business.

More than 100 business delegates from across Sefton descended on Hugh Baird College to learn more about exciting new developments in the field of digital technologies for small firms. 

The theme for Sefton Economic Forum was ‘The Future for Business is Digital’, and was organised by Sefton Growth Hub, part of the Council’s InvestSefton enterprise and investment service. 

Subjects discussed at the event, included digital technologies as an enabler for small firms, future trends, and the many free applications available online to help businesses improve productivity, save time and reduce costs.

via mysefton.co.uk

The meeting set out to help existing businesses to confront the challenges of new technologies, but I'm interested in the more local level here in Formby.

We know our local Parish Councils have spent at least 2/3 years on a Neighbourhood Plan and we know that has cost quite a lot of time, consultation and money in the preparation. Are you, like me, wondering when that will be adopted? Are the two local Councils going to agree the way forward?

It seems to me given the time taken so far over preparing the plan, it may no longer be fit for purpose. I think we have a right to expect our local civic leaders to be precisely that, leaders.

I'm fast beginning to think that they have lost their way and in doing do, are failing us all in the community.

What do you think?

 

 

 

Is Formby Parish Council Changing?

Is Formby Parish Council Changing Direction

Following the recent AGM and the election of a new Conservative Party member, it looks as if changes in direction and policies might be on the way for the Formby Parish Council.

The Results

Elected

PEACE Gemma Michelle
Conservative Party Candidate

Other unsuccessful candidates

Maxwell Simon Peter
Community Action not Party Politics

RICHARDS Carol
Labour Party

WALSH Michael James
Green Party

 

FPC Change of direction? pic.twitter.com/4SmJSfBH4e

— Formby Village (@FormbyVillage) May 5, 2017

 

FPC Change of direction? May 5, 2017

 

FPC Change of direction? May 5, 2017

 

Fantastic results for Harington Conservative candidate @LadyIsabella81 who won @FormbyParish Council by election today. pic.twitter.com/SjEcTzSwp7

— Denise Dutton (@CllrDDutton) May 5, 2017

Liverpool Mayoral Election Result - full details

The full breakdown of results following the #LCR Mayoral elections can be viewed here https://t.co/Ezjknf68gw

— Sefton Council (@seftoncouncil) May 5, 2017

It's Election Day

There are eight candidates standing for Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

All candidates are listed in alphabetical order below. This is the order in which they will appear on the ballot paper:

Roger Bannister - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
Paul Breen - Get The Coppers Off The Jury.
Tony Caldeira - The Conservative Party.
Carl Cashman - Liberal Democrats.
Tom Crone - Green Party.
Tabitha Morton - Women’s Equality Party.
Steve Rotheram - Labour Party.
Paula Walters - UK Independence Party.

Use your vote. 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool City Region Mayoral Election 2017

The inaugural Liverpool City Region mayoral election will be held on 4 May 2017 to elect the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Subsequent elections will be held May 2020 and then every four years after that. The metro mayor will have control over the whole Liverpool City Region combined authority area which consists of the following local authorities:

The Mayor will work with existing city and borough leaders to take forward the mayor's strategic plan. The metro mayor will have a budget of £900 million over 30 years with powers on education & skills, planning and housing, transport, health and social care.

Combined authorities were introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 to cover areas larger than the existing local authorities but smaller than the regions. Combined authorities are created voluntarily and allow a group of local authorities to pool appropriate responsibility and receive certain delegated functions from central government in order to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over a wider area.

There are currently six such authorities, with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority established on 1 April 2011, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and three others established in April 2014, and a sixth in April 2016. If more than three candidates stand, the outcome will be determined by the supplementary vote system (SV).

For more visit the Wikipedia page

 

Four Candidates Contest Parish Council Election

Voters in Harington Ward, Formby get the chance to elect a new Parish Councillor.

On Thursday 4th May voters in Harington Ward, Formby will be asked to elect a new Parish Councillor after a recent resignation. 

The election is on the same day as the Liverpool City Region Mayoralty election.

The candidates are:

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)	Name of Proposer	Reason why no longer nominated*
MAXWELL Simon Peter	55 Hawksworth Drive, Formby, L37 7EY	Community Action not Party Politics	Bennett Maria
PEACE Gemma Michelle	Flat 1 Kenyons Court, 7 Kenyons Lane, Formby, L37 8BE	Conservative Party Candidate	Dutton Denise
RICHARDS Carol	Asparagus Cottage, St Luke`s Church Rd, Formby, L37 2DF	Labour Party	Page Catherine M
WALSH Michael James	26 Kent Road, Formby, L37 6BQ	Green Party	Lynch Brendan

 

Democracy, Diversity and English Devolution

Do you support Electoral Reform?

I do and here's the reasons why

The excitement of the general election aside, it’s important to remember that there are other important elections coming up – ones that have gone largely under the national radar.

As well as important local elections in Scotland, Wales and much of England, the first ‘metro-mayors’ will be elected. Six new city-region mayors will be elected with wide-ranging powers over the local economy, transport – and in Greater Manchester even some parts of the NHS and welfare.

These new institutions represent the greatest change to the governance of England in decades. It is vitally important then, to think about how they will work as democratic institutions. The Electoral Reform Society has hence produced a new report, From City Hall to Citizens' Hall: Democracy, Diversity and English Devolution.

- See more at: http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/blog/democracy-diversity-and-english-devolution#sthash.whcIK367.dpuf

via www.electoral-reform.org.uk

Formby Parish Council Election May 2017

Following a recent resignation from Formby Parish Council, residents in Harington Ward will have the opportunity to choose a replacement.

A POLL WILL BE TAKEN on Thursday 4 May 2017 between the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm.  

Harington Ward residents will be able to cast two votes, one for the Parish Council election and the other in the Liverpool City Region Mayoral Election.

The Parish Council candidate details are posted below for your information.

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)
MAXWELL Simon Peter	55 Hawksworth Drive, Formby, L37 7EY	Community Action not Party Politics
PEACE Gemma Michelle	Flat 1 Kenyons Court, 7 Kenyons Lane, Formby, L37 8BE	Conservative Party Candidate
RICHARDS Carol	Asparagus Cottage, St Luke`s Church Rd, Formby, L37 2DF	Labour Party
WALSH Michael James	26 Kent Road, Formby, L37 6BQ	Green Party

NOTE: You do not need to take a polling card with you in order to vote. Just turn up and give the polling station officers your and address.

 

Ensure you’re registered to vote in the Liverpool City Region Mayoral Elections

On Thursday, 4 May 2017, all residents over the age of 18 years residing in the Liverpool City Region will be entitled to vote for the first ever Liverpool City Region Mayor.

If you are already registered to vote, you will receive your poll card by 3 April 2017.

If you’re not already registered to vote, ensure you register and make your vote count to influence the issues that affect you and the area where you live.

via mysefton.co.uk

 

 

 

 

News Direct From Sefton Council

Sefton Council launches a 'News website' specifically for the residents of Sefton.

The Council announced the news using a range of social media as well as their existing website.

The news site went live on the web on Friday 3 March. The official announcement explains:

Sefton Council has revamped how it delivers news to its residents with the launch of a brand new website. (My emphasis)

MySefton.co.uk is now the home of all things Council, community and Public Health, delivering important news in a much more user friendly way and acting as a hub for residents to find out their information.

The new website, which has been designed in house, draws inspiration from typical online news platforms and will allow Sefton Council to share more engaging content in a way not currently possible, including putting a spotlight on some of the vital work that residents might not be aware of.

Users of the new website will find news by category rather than the current list format, while there is also a live roadworks map and a home for all local consultations, including those led by partner organisations.

Sefton Council is encouraging users to share news and information with handy social media social buttons meaning residents can help spread the word via their Facebook and Twitter profiles........more

 

Formby Parish Council March Meeting

Members of the public are invited to the March meeting of Formby Parish Council.

Formby Parish Council meets once a month throughout the year, apart from August. Members of the public are always welcome and activity encouraged to ask questions or raise issues of concern. The meeting is at 7.00pm on Monday 6 March in Formby Library. The agenda is published below.

Notice of Meeting

All members of the Council are hereby summoned to attend the next ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council, which will be held at Formby Library, Duke Street, Formby, on Tuesday 7 March 2017, at 7.00pm.

Claire Jenkins

Clerk to Formby Parish Council

Agenda

1.0 To receive Apologies

2.0 To Receive Declarations of Interest

3.0 Public Forum (the meeting will be adjourned for this item)

4.0 To consider and approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 February 2017

5.0 Matters of Report from Previous Meeting – for information only

6.0 Planning Applications – Sefton’s weekly list email, also available on Sefton Council’s website.

7.0 To discuss and resolve the following:

7.1 To purchase a CCTV camera for Duke Street, at a cost of approximately £6000, as part of a long-term strategy for improving security and monitoring of anti-social behaviour (Ref: General Project Group minutes)

7.2 To purchase 2 replacement benches for Alt Road park at an approximate cost of £1000 and to set aside £1000 for the repair and maintenance of benches around Formby, as part of an ongoing programme. (Ref: Environment Group minutes)

7.3 To formally approve the renewal of the lease for the Parish Council office for £3000 per annum (Ref : January Finance Group minutes).

8.0 To authorise Payments (enclosed)

9.0 Chairman’s Report  

10.0 Update on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan

11.0 To receive the following reports – enclosed for information only

            Clerk’s report

            Environment Group minutes

            General Projects Group minutes

            Finance Group minutes

12.0 Date of Next Meeting – Tuesday 4 April 2017 to be held in the Meeting Room, Formby Library at 7pm

Members of the press and public are welcome to attend

The complete agenda and reports are available for download on the FPC website: http://www.formbyparishcouncil.org.uk/index.php/downloads