Southport BID seeks new Directors as they prepare to launch their 2nd term

HAVING received a successful yes vote from the businesses within the Town Centre back in June 2019, Southport BID's vision for their 2nd term is to make a meaningful difference to the future of Southport. Southport Business Improvement District (BID) is looking to recruit a new Chief Executive and voluntary Director's to lead them through their 2nd 5 year term, which begins in November 2019.

By working in partnership, the BID's main aim will be to work to help make Southport a forward facing Town. Representing over 740 businesses of all sizes in the Town Centre, the BID will use the money invested from them via a levy, to deliver projects designed to make Southport greener, cleaner and safer, to add value to the Town through events and to attract and support new and existing business.

Newly appointed interim Chair of the BID, Susannah Porter, knows there are big challenges ahead but says the team of passionate and committed Directors are feeling confident and positive about what can be delivered, "We are grateful for the show of support the levy payers gave us in voting for a 2nd term. We know there have been challenges, but we have learned a lot and are determined to evolve and build on the achievements of the first five years and make Southport an inspiring place to live, work, shop and invest. We will be listening closely to the views of the levy payers to make sure the projects we invest in represent their priorities for the Town. As such we will be undertaking a consultation project over the coming months and will introduce working groups going forward to give people a chance to tell us, be heard and be actively involved in our projects. We want to work harder to talk to our levy payers and the wider Southport Community, constructively and positively. We want levy payers to become more actively involved and so are looking for more stakeholders with the core skills to support our Management team and join our Board of Directors"
 

The Southport BID Board is made up of representatives from the local business community who offer their time and expertise to oversee the activity of the BID. All BID Directors are unpaid in their role.  Susannah says:- "we are applying a rigorous application process to ensure we find the very best candidates with the skills, experience and knowledge to help oversee the development of project ideas, drive investment and engagement whilst ensuring value is delivered to levy payers."

Ahead of the new term, the BID will also recruit a new CEO to replace Hugh Evans, who recently retired. They plan to have someone in place once the new term begins and are looking for a candidate with experience in place management, who has the skill set to drive the BID, and Southport, forward with vision and strategic thinking. To launch the new term, the BID will host their annual AGM, on the 14 November 2019. The event will host with key note industry speakers and will provide a chance for levy payers to meet the team of Directors and find out more about the plans for the next 5 years. Full details of the event will be announced soon on their website.

Southport BID was re-elected for a 2nd term in June of this year following a successful ballot result. The new term officially begins on the 1st November this year and runs until 2019. More details of the ballot process and the BID's current project can be found on their website:- SouthportBid.Com.

The Board ask that all potential applicants for the CEO or Director roles should head to the website to find out more about the positions or how to get apply. Susannah is available on:- Chair@SouthportBid.Com and as someone who lives and works within the Town Centre, she is always happy and willing to meet business owners with any questions or feedback.

GMB Union is grateful to Swissport for compromising before anyone's holiday was disrupted

A series of strike at Liverpool's John Lennon airport have been cancelled after GMB members accepted a last ditch offer. The airport was bracing itself for a summer of disruption after 200 members working on the Swissport Easy Jet contract and Swissport Mainline voted for industrial action. On the eve of the 1st strike, Swissport made a new offer addressing the health and safety issues and working practices, which has now been accepted by both groups of members. Eddie Parker, GMB Organiser, said:- "GMB members have voted to accept this offer which will improve health and safety, the working environment and contractual benefits for our members. This shows what people can achieve through collective action and trade union membership. We are grateful to Swissport for making a compromising at the last minute before anyone's holiday was disrupted."

Recruitment lines are now open to become a Police Officer at Merseyside Police

RECRUITMENT lines to join Merseyside Police are now open and they are encouraging driven individuals who are passionate about serving their community to join the Force. The force will be taking on additional new Constables from this recruitment drive and details of how to apply will be on the Merseyside Police website. We are told that Merseyside Police are committed to providing an effective service to communities across Merseyside and that they aim to put our communities 1st in everything they do.  To do this, they also need to understand all of our communities and their Officers and staff should reflect the diverse communities they serve.

T/ACC Natalie Perischine said:- "The Government recently announced funding for an uplift in the number of Police Officers nationally, and as a result Merseyside Police is looking towards a sustained recruitment of new Officers. In addition to this, there will be another recruitment drive in November. Then, throughout the next three years there will be further opportunities for members of the public to join us. For those applying in the future, there will be changes in relation to how you can apply to become an Officer. However, we will ensure these changes are communicated and the different routes to become a Police Officer are made clear. We want to encourage people from various communities, who have the passion, ability and drive to deliver an effective policing service, to join us and help us better understand the needs of the diverse communities we serve and protect."

Chief Inspector Karen Wiesenekker from our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Team added:- "Often when we run recruitment campaigns, we find that there aren't many applications from the different and underrepresented groups which can be quite disappointing. Being a Police Officer, although a tough job, is extremely rewarding and is definitely a job for all people from all backgrounds or walks of life. Therefore, it is extremely important that our Officers are representative of the communities we serve. We embrace diversity and inclusivity and work as one team to provide the public with an effective policing service. People from different backgrounds bring different experiences and viewpoints to the force and can help us shape the future of policing, whilst better understanding the various cultures, beliefs and traditions that makes up Merseyside. The skills for being a good Police Officer includes the ability to work as part of a team, solve problems and keep calm and confident in difficult circumstances. The role can be both physically and mentally demanding but it is an opportunity to make a difference and ensure that the people who live in Merseyside feel safe."

If you would like to apply to join Merseyside Police or would like more information, please click this link.

Anti fracking meeting to be held about the proposed fracking on Altcar Moss

SINCE our report within last weeks addition about the tremors detected at Preston New Road, anti fracking campaigners have told us that they will be holding a public meetings to discuss the application to drill, hydraulically fracture and test 2 exploratory boreholes, at a site located next to Formby, on at Altcar Moss, that has been submitted by by Aurora Energy Resources. The meeting will take place at Lydiate Village Centre, Lambshear Lane, on Thursday, 5 September 2019, and then on the following night at Haskayne Village Hall, School Lane, Downholland, on Friday, 6 September 2019, both meeting will be starting at 7pm. The planning application reference:- 'LCC/2019/0037' can be located via searching Lancashire County Council's website under 'planning.'