May election countdown: Interview with Wirral Conservative leader Councillor Jeff Green

Apr 27 2011 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

CONSERVATIVE leader Jeff Green says his party has delivered an “honest, inclusive administration” and claims Labour is becoming little more than “a protest organisation”.

The current leader of Wirral Council said his first year in office has been “challenging” and “rewarding”.

But he conceded that, in at least one area, his administration could “have been better”.

Cllr Green told the News: “I think the consultation that was done regarding respite care should have been engaging with service users and should have involved carers and service users earlier in that process.

“We’ve put that right now, and have carers involved, but I would have wanted us to have been better.

“The other thing for me is, when the council gets things wrong, to be up front and say; this was wrong.

“When people acknowledge a mistake you can move forward.

“One of the big differences between us and the previous administration is that for them, sorry seemed to be the hardest word. They still haven’t apologised for trying to close all the libraries and leisure centres.”

Labour is hoping to make gains at the Liberal Democrats’ expense and, while Dennis Knowles may have difficulty taking his Seacombe ward with him over to the Tories, Jeff Green says the party as a whole is receiving good feedback from voters.

The West Kirby councillor said: “We’ve had a really good response from people who think we’re doing the right things and making real progress.

“That’s the story we’re getting on the doorstep.

“I think people appreciate the fact we’ve frozen council tax, they appreciate the fact we’re reducing running costs, with over a quarter of senior managers gone, and that we’re investing in things like Surestart and libraries.

“People recognise we had to look at different ways of delivering services, and appreciate the fact we involved the public in that, because we did go out and consult.

“People appreciate that we shared the issues with them and they had an opportunity to contribute and get involved.

“I’ll be doing that again this year so we can move forward and make sure we continue with this approach, involving, engaging and listening to the public, to make sure the council is responding to their priorities.”

Cllr Green says his party’s focus will be on “making Wirral the most business and employer-friendly borough in the country” whilst “making sure no-one is left behind”.

He criticised Labour, saying he was “very disappointed” because “they clearly have no policy”.

Jeff Green said: “They seem to want to try and recreate themselves as a protest organisation, rather than have a clear vision of what they want Wirral to become.

“It’s really important to us that we put forward a clear vision about where we want Wirral to be, and how we take people with us.”

Jeff Green says he does not support the alternative vote system because he believes “it is unfair”.

He added: “If the public don’t like the way an administration is working, they should have a clear, straightforward way of kicking the rascals out.”