Knowsley and Liverpool councils to ‘share’ top regeneration manager

KNOWSLEY Council and Liverpool City Council are set to enter into a unique arrangement to ‘share’ Knowsley’s Executive Director of Regeneration, Economy and Skills, Nick Kavanagh, in a temporary move agreed by the two councils’ leaders.

The arrangement will mean Kavanagh, 41, spending around three days a week in the city council’s offices driving Liverpool’s regeneration agenda forward.

City Council Leader, Joe Anderson, said:- “It makes absolute sense at a time when we face such difficult challenges that two forward thinking councils should share their talent whenever possible. By working together we are making a ground breaking move and one that makes the City Region Agenda real. As we restructure, to make our council a leaner, more efficient organisation, I am determined that the momentum of our regeneration work does not falter by tapping into the talent that we have across the city region. Having Nick Kavanagh on board is an amazing coup for us and I’m very grateful to Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, for his co-operation and willingness to try a new approach to councils working in partnership.”

Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, said:- “When we were approached with this idea I immediately realised it makes sense that we should work together on an issue like regeneration when it is of such huge importance to both the city and the region. Several other councils are now seriously considering pooling their talent and, as times get tougher, we should not be afraid of trying new ways of working and ensuring we provide the public with the best value-for-money services we can.”

Nick Kavanagh said:- “Working across two councils is still a relatively new idea and for that reason offers a hugely exciting challenge. I will be working hard to ensure that my time is spent driving the two councils’ regeneration agendas and ensuring that they are aligned for the on-going benefit of the city region. Who knows how this might affect the way councils work across the region? Working together in partnership will offer advantages to both organisations and this is an ideal opportunity to really put that into action.”

GREEN FAYRE

TRANSITION Southport, in conjunction with Sefton Leisure and Tourism and a Grassroots Grant from The Community Foundation for Merseyside, is all set to provide an entertaining and informative day out for all the family in the park.

The Green Fayre will take place in Hesketh Park on Saturday 11 September from 10 AM to 4 PM. There will be lots of freebies, ranging from free municipal compost to free hand and back massages in the Health and Wellbeing Marquee. There will be a DJ, streetdance and hiphop presentations by Johnny Sheldon, and activities for children provided by Parenting 2000. Local beekeeepers will be showing a hive in action.

New local eco businesses such as The Soap Corner, NWPL, Alter-Native, Wikaniko and The Fair Trade Store will be strutting their stuff, with the chance to buy green products such as cleaners, cosmetics, and Fair Trade items made from recycled materials. Ample advice on alternative energy and insulation will be on hand, and information from a wide range of environmental organisations.

Southport Transition's Treasurer Mike Smithson said:- "Southport has not seen an event like this for many years, and we are excited to have the opportunity to put together lots of interesting things that are currently happening in the green movement in tandem with entertainment and children's activities in the superb setting of Hesketh Park."

Admission is free both to the public and exhibitors. Anyone who would like to have a stall appropriate for this eco event is asked to immediately contact Mike Smithson on:- 01704 560745 or email:- mikesmithson40@hotmail.co.uk.

MCS BEACHWATCH BIG WEEKEND 2010

SIGN up now and join thousands of volunteers helping to turn the tide on UK beach litter! The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) urgently needs volunteers to take part in the UK's biggest beach clean and litter survey which takes place in September 2010. Over 4,500 volunteers took part in Beachwatch Big Weekend 2009, cleaning 397 beaches. MCS is hoping that this year's Beachwatch will be even bigger and better, and that more of the UK's beaches will be cleaned and surveyed. The tide of litter washing up on our shores is not just unpleasant to look at; it can harm and kill some of our best-loved marine animals. Many species of marine wildlife including seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales mistake marine litter for food or become tangled in it; resulting in horrific injuries and sometimes death. Emma Snowden, MCS Litter Projects Co-ordinator says:- "If you care about our amazing marine wildlife and are concerned about the growing tide of litter in the UK, this is your chance to take part in MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend and make a real difference... The information you collect will help us tackle the main sources of litter and campaign to reduce the most common items ending up on our beaches and killing wildlife."  The MCS surveys show a 75% increase in the amount of beach litter since the first Beachwatch in 1994, with plastic waste increasing by a massive 121%. In 2009 alone, over 12,000 cotton bud sticks were found on UK beaches, along with 16,000 drinks bottles, 20,000 lids and 17,000 items of fishing litter. The MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend provides a simple and effective way in which everyone can help tackle the relentless wave of rubbish washing onto our beaches and at sea. "Volunteers never cease to be amazed at the amount of the litter they find on their beaches. It's shocking to think what you could feel between your toes, apart from sand. We want more volunteers to take part in Beachwatch Big Weekend 2010 to ensure it continues to be the biggest and most influential project in the fight against beach litter in the UK." said Emma Snowden. UK governments have promised to develop an action plan to tackle marine litter - plans MCS would like to see published by December 2011, to ensure governments turn their promises into action. A petition to keep up the pressure to produce an action plan can be signed at wmcsuk.org.  Once again MCS is extremely grateful to SeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferries for funding and taking part in the Beachwatch campaign. Robin Wilkins, MD of SeaFrance says:- "Along with members of SeaFrance staff and local volunteers, I have been involved in regular beach cleans and surveys at Kingsdown. It's been shocking to see the levels of litter on the beach. The easy option is to just leave your litter behind rather than take it home with you, but the litter left behind impacts our coastline for generations. SeaFrance is absolutely committed through its support as lead sponsor of MCS Beachwatch to help combat this problem." Beachwatch Big Weekend 2010 takes place over the 18 September and 19 September 2010. Register online at:- wmcsuk.org  or telephone the litter team on:- 01989 567807.

M.M.O. INVESTIGATION OF SEAL DEATHS

THE Marine Management Organisation (MMO), which regulates of the use of English seas, is leading on an investigation to determine the cause of seal deaths occurring on the North Norfolk coast.

At present there is no evidence of any criminal activity and the cause of the seal deaths is to be established. With support from the Norfolk Police, the MMO will continue work to determine the cause of the deaths in an effort to eliminate risks to the local seal population.

The MMO will work with a number of key organisations and experts such as the Sea Mammal Research Unit, Natural England, the Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee and others during the course of the investigation.

The MMO continue to receive the support of the Norfolk Police as well as support from Statoil and Scira, who are currently engaged in an offshore windfarm construction at Sheringham Shoal.

If anyone has any information regarding these incidents, or their possible cause, please contact the MMO’s Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team in Newcastle on:- 0191 376 2512.