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Sefton residents are invited to give their views on bus services in the area

1 March 2019
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Merseytravel, Sefton Council

Residents in Sefton have the chance to give their views on bus services in the area in the first consultation phase of a new bus network review in the borough.

This initial consultation phase of the review will run from Wednesday, February 27 until 5pm on Tuesday, March 26.

Members of the public will be able to give their thoughts and feedback via an online survey which can be access from the Bus Network Review webpage at www.merseytravel.gov.uk/busreview.

There will also be two drop-in events taking place in where residents can speak to representatives from Merseytravel about bus services across the area, how they  use them and what might encourage residents to use them more. The two events are listed below:

  • Southport Chapel Street – Wednesday, March 6, 10 to 3pm
  • Bootle New Strand – Thursday, March 7, 10 to 3pm

Merseytravel, as part of its Bus Strategy, is committed to carrying out regular bus network reviews across the Merseyside bus network, with the aim of creating an improved and simpler network.

The first set of reviews took place from 2016 to 2018. Going forward, there will now be a regular cycle of network reviews, ensuring that the bus network delivers the aspirations of the Liverpool City Region.

Historically bus routes were considered on a piecemeal basis. The idea of these network reviews is to consider the commercial network and the supported network – that which relies on public subsidy via Merseytravel – as a whole. This will ensure that the network best reflects the needs of the public and adapts to plans for future housing, leisure and employments developments.

As part of the Bus Alliance with Arriva and Stagecoach, and with support from other operators, Merseytravel is working through these network reviews with the aim of getting more people using the bus by creating a better bus experience.

Part of the review will look at the current supported bus network and consider how increasingly limited public resources can be focused where there is most need.

To help this, we are looking for feedback and information from the public about how they use the bus network in the area, particularly any supported bus service. The first stage of review is to gather feedback on bus services in the area, which will help inform any potential changes.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Portfolio Holder, said:

“The original set of bus network reviews helped us to begin to shape the bus network in Merseyside to better fit the needs of residents and businesses, while facing up the challenges we face in trying to fund supported services.

“By listening to the feedback gained in those reviews, we were able to work with commercial operators as part of the Bus Alliance to see where existing routes could be adapted to cover any changes. This has not been the case across the country, where some local authorities have taken the tough decision to withdraw all supported services.

“This latest cycle of bus network reviews will help us to continue to adapt the bus network so that it reflects the aspirations of the Liverpool City Region and we would encourage everyone to give their feedback through the appropriate channels to help shape the network in the best way possible.”

Sefton supports businesses – any size, any sector!

1 March 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Health, Latest News

Business growth and investment plans were the topics of conversation as Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, Cllr Marion Atkinson, visited two Southport businesses.

The visits were set up by InvestSefton – Sefton Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service who have helped both businesses through their ERDF Business Growth programme.

First up was a visit to Glennray House to meet co-directors Ray Warburton and Glenn Critchley, who have totally revamped a Victorian property in Alexandra Road into a 7-bedroomed B&B.

In its first year of trading, they have already received a Booking.com Gold Accommodation award of 9.7 to 10, an Excellence award from TripAdvisor and invitation and membership of Britain’s finest collection of luxury hotels and B&Bs. InvestSefton has supported the business since its inception and the business now trades on a range of social media and through its own website.

The group then visited Adaptive Communications Solutions – an owner-managed Telecoms IT and web solutions provider business based in Hoghton Street. The company was set up by Managing Director James Brayshaw in 2003 with the aim of creating a reliable telecoms company that focuses on building long term relationships with customers, offering a high-quality service.

The company has grown with a loyal workforce of 25 people and have accrued a wide range of accreditations, qualifications and awards.

InvestSefton has supported the business on its growth journey and more recently James Brayshaw worked with the team by using his expertise to facilitate a number of highly acclaimed b2b events attended by some 200 businesses, helping them to prepare for GDPR.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “Once again it was great to see two growing and successful ventures from two ends of the Southport business spectrum that support our own objectives for the local economy and both with a focus on customer quality. For Glennray House, they have gone to great lengths of time and investment to completely restore a beautiful Victorian property to further enhance the Southport visitor offer; I am delighted InvestSefton has been able to lend its support.

“Adaptive Communications Solutions are at the forefront of a growing and highly competitive Telecoms IT and web support market and I have been particularly impressed by the company’s continuing commitment to its staff in terms of their development and wellbeing; again it was good to see that InvestSefton has developed a good relationship with James and his team and in turn they have used their expertise to support other Sefton businesses.”

Ray Warburton of Glennray House, said: “This is the culmination of more than two years hard work and investment and InvestSefton has been with us every step of the way offering support and advice. The online comments we have received have been overwhelming and we are looking forward to grow the business further ”

James Brayshaw of Adaptive Communications Solutions Ltd, added: “I have always passionately believed in looking after your employees. I believe that if you look after people they will look after you. We take customer services very seriously indeed and will always go the extra mile for people. This has led to our fantastic staff and customer retention rates and ultimately been the bedrock of our growth.
“I have enjoyed working with the team at Invest Sefton, their local knowledge has assisted me with networking and development. I would highly recommend speaking to them to see how they can help you

Crack open new friendships at Easter Fun Day

1 March 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: 2019 - Sefton's Year of friendship, Front Page

The L21 Network is holding a Community Easter Fun Day at Litherland Youth and Community Centre on Saturday 13 April, 2-4pm.

This FREE event is a brilliant opportunity for people in the local community to come together and  get to know their neighbours.

Activities include a bouncy castle, face-painting, arts and crafts, beat the goalie and even a Playstation 4 Gaming Station.

Merseyside Police will also be facing off against the community in a football match to rival the Merseyside Derby.

In Sefton’s Year of Friendship, Sefton Council is encouraging residents to get out and about to help reduce loneliness and events like this provide the perfect excuse.

Sefton’s Budget Meeting and Council Tax set for 2019/20

28 February 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Local Consultation, Sefton Council

Council Tax for services provided by Sefton Council will increase by 2.99% to fund the unprecedented demand on Children’s Social Care, protecting our vulnerable older people, and being able to continue to provide the everyday services residents rely on.

At Full Council this evening (February 28), councillors agreed the third year of the budget plan and approved the 2.99% rise for 2019/20 for the local authority’s services.

For an easy explanation of how your council tax is spent, click here.

It means that for the provision of council services, it will cost the majority of householders an extra 78p or less per week (figures based on a Band C property).

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have to increase our Council Tax but we’ve been left with no alternative because we just don’t get enough funding from the Government to continue to run the services that our communities rely on. This is the only way to ensure we manage to provide the vital services everyone expects from us. From caring for children, the elderly and other vulnerable people to emptying the bins, cleaning the streets and maintaining the roads, as well as still providing leisure, cultural and community activities and supporting the skills and business sectors that are essential to the growth of our economy.

“To put it into context, between 2010 and 2020, Sefton will have lost the equivalent of £746 from each household as the Government continues to reduce the money it gives to councils. That is a huge loss and we keep warning about the huge risk to local services. This loss also comes at a time when we have seen massive increases in pressures for services. Not only due to the unprecedented loss of funding and the ongoing social care crisis, but a surge in demand for children’s services, support for special educational needs and disabilities and the uncertainty over schools funding.”

Due to the increased pressure for social care services, Sefton has still had to identify some new savings to ensure a balanced budget this year. At full Council, a number of options were agreed that would have the least impact on Sefton’s communities.

Cllr Maher continued: “We will continue to invest our resources where it will deliver the most impact – in creating jobs, protecting our most vulnerable children, adults and families and in improving the local environment. Despite the challenges we face we will work hard with our partners to remain a confident and connected borough. We believe that with the right funding, we can continue to lead our areas and improve residents’ lives.”

The overall Council Tax bill – which includes police and fire services charges and the new tax for a Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor – will go up by 5.11% to ÂŁ1,662.32 for the coming financial year (for a Band C property). This excludes the amounts charged by Parish Councils for homes in their areas.

In the following video, Cllr Maher provides insight into the pressures facing Sefton Council as it continues to deliver quality services to residents despite increasing pressure on its resources.

Have your say on Sefton health policies review

28 February 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Front Page, Health

Sefton residents are being asked for views about a number of local health policies, being reviewed to make sure NHS resources are used on the most effective treatments.

NHS South Sefton (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are working together with Halton, Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington CCGs to review a group of policies for procedures and treatments that are known as Criteria Based Clinical Treatments (CBCT).  These are routine procedures that are known to have medical benefit only in very specific situations, or for a small number of people.

This is the third phase of the review, which aims to keep NHS care up to date with the latest national clinical guidelines, methods and technology, whilst also making the best use of NHS resources.

The policies that Sefton residents are being asked to provide views on in this latest phase are:

  • Continuous glucose monitoring systems
  • Cough assist devices
  • Insulin pumps
  • Secondary care administered peripheral joint injections
  • Surgery for prostatism or lower urinary tract infections
  • Transanal irrigation

At the same time, the CCGs are letting people know about updates to their policy for Botulinum toxin treatments, bringing it in line with national guidance from NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee.

Dr Rob Caudwell, local GP and chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “It is right that we regularly review the services we commission to ensure that we’re providing the most effective treatments that make the best use of our limited NHS resources.”

Dr Craig Gillespie, local GP and acting chair of NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “This review of policies is about looking at the latest guidelines, treatments, methods and technologies and where there is very little or no evidence of effectiveness, there is no benefit in offering them to patients.

Craig added: “Any procedure comes with risk, so it’s important patients are offered those with the maximum clinical or functional benefit, not for cosmetic or psychological reasons. As clinicians we will explore other, more suitable treatments for patients with these types of needs.”

The information gathered will be used to help develop new or revised polices.

No final decisions have been made at this stage and it is important that as many people as possible give their views to help shape local NHS policies for the future.  Patients who might not be eligible for treatment will still be able to apply through an Individual Funding Request (IFR) where appropriate.

More details on proposed changes to the policies being reviewed along with a survey, open until 7 July 2019, can be found on each CCG’s website www.southseftonccg.nhs.uk or www.southportandformbyccg.nhs.uk or by emailing mlcsu.involvement@nhs.net or calling 01782 872 506.

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