A statement from Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson on the 'Local government settlement'

ON 19 December 2012, responding to the settlement for local government being announced in the House of Commons, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "It will take us some time to unpick what this means and separate the facts from the spin, but I have heard nothing from Secretary of State Eric Pickles that gives me any comfort. We had already estimated we would lose 52% of our funding before the Government announced in the autumn statement that there would be a further cut to local government spending from 2014. I am particularly appalled that the Secretary of State has singled out deprived Cities such as Liverpool and accused us of holding out the begging bowl. This is at a time where 4,000 people in Liverpool have registered for food banks in the last few months, and where over 40,000 people will be hit by cuts to welfare benefits. Liverpool is the now one of the most badly hit Cities in the country, with cuts amounting to £252 per person; 4 times the national average. By 2017 we estimate we will have lost at least £284 million a year compared to 2011. We are not deficit deniers, but we get 80% of our funding from Central Government, which means we are disproportionately affected compared to leafier and more prosperous parts of the country who raise more of their income through Council Tax. The truth is that local government is facing unprecedented reductions in funding which will change forever the way in which we deliver services. Nobody will be left untouched by the scale of cuts. I have already written to the Prime Minister appealing for fairness, and warning of the consequences of the cuts. On 18 January we are hosting a conference in Liverpool with Council and faith leaders from other big cities to look at how we deliver the austerity measures with fairness and step up our campaign. All we have had so far from Eric Pickles is misleading comments about the level of Council reserves, which completely ignores the fact that we can't touch most of the money as it is already committed for specific schemes or liabilities." Email us your views on this to our newsroom via:- news24@southportreporter.com  and let us know if you agree with Joe Anderson or not?

Maritime Volunteers rewarded

AWARD winning volunteers who helped out at this year's London Olympics will be welcomed to the Town Hall this week to celebrate their achievement. The Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) have been awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 for volunteer work carried out during the year including marshalling duties at the Olympics and work undertaken during the Queen's jubilee. The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's.

Liverpool's Lord Mayor, Councillor Sharon Sullivan said:- "I am delighted to be welcoming such a deserving group of people to the Town Hall. To be given such a prestigious award, in the year the Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, is a credit to the hard work and dedication of each and every volunteer. This award is great recognition, not only of their work this year, but of the work that members are doing quietly all the time. As an organisation the MVS have a real part to play in the community with a training programme second to none. I congratulate them on their amazing achievement and wish them every success for the years ahead."

Local Volunteer Ehab Alsayagh, said:- "After such a great year, the MVS is delighted to finish 2012 by joining the Lord Mayor of Liverpool. To gain local recognition along with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award makes the entire team proud to be playing a part in the MVS"

Locally the MVS work has supported water based events through Project Victor which teaches young people safety and discipline on the water. Nationally this year has been outstanding for the MVS, including four North West volunteers, who helped out at the 2012 Olympics in Weymouth and on the River Thames at Dorney Lake, all three events were support by members from the North of England. Each unit trains their members in valuable maritime skills that can be called upon by the community in times of emergency. MVS members are trained in handling boats, seamanship, basic marine engineering and operational support skills including radio and telephone communications, all of which can be put to good use in times of natural disaster or emergency.

Psychic Parties hit the road and available in Merseyside

AMANDA Tooke, "The Angel Mystic" is taking the North West by storm. As an experienced clairvoyant and medium she specialises in teaching people about the world of Psychic, which is proving more popular than ever with the launch of her Psychic Parties in Merseyside. Psychic Parties are a unique, fun and inspiring opportunity to learn more about yourself, whether you have the "gift", and simply to have some fun. Unlike many in her field Amanda is turning the tables on the public offering us a chance to connect with our own psychic abilities.  Amanda will come along to your home, workplace or chosen venue, where she will host your psychic party! This will involve a 'warm-up' with some psychic games and then individual psychic readings to each guest.  Amanda welcomes sceptics:- "I don't expect everyone to believe in what I do, but sceptics can be the best guests as 9 times out of 10 they are amazed to see the abilities we all have but don't use because they don't know how to and haven't channelled their minds to think that way."

Carolyn Middleton was a recent guest at a party:- "It was amazing, I didn't know what to expect and had no idea we all had a psychic ability. I thought it might not be my cup of tea but it was really relaxed and we had a great laugh."

Amanda explains how using your psychic abilities can help in everyday life:- "Do you forget where your keys are and need to find them, simply tune into your psychic and you'll soon locate them!"