About Wrinehill

        NALC also reported that as part of its White Ribbon activity, in which it is urging all councils to participate, it is also exploring the  parish and town councils leading the way in tackling violence against women and girls through White Ribbon Accreditation and local action. White Ribbon Day is a powerful reminder of a collective responsibility needed to end violence against women and girls. Such a commitment needs to extend beyond one day. By taking the pledge and supporting the cause, it is hoped that all can help to create a safer, more respectful society. When this idea was presented to Betley Parish Council two years ago, it did not see the light of day. The Campaign, run by men, is in order to raise awareness and  focus on prevention, and encouraging men and boys to speak out against harmful attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls.  It should be extended to all, however.  This year's theme,  We Speak Up , ...

  The National Association for Local Councils (NALC) in an attempt to change/improve the accounting practices of smaller councils is launching a consultation re the proper practices for smaller councils re transparency and accountability and sound financial management.  The Smaller Authorities Proper Practices Panel (SAPPP) formerly AGAR which a fter the Audit Commission was abolished, became the core document for the new audit regime run under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. The completed AGAR form had to  include accounting statements, Governance statements and an internal audit report. All these documents must be made available to the public in order to help residents see how local money is being managed and spent. The Internal and External Auditors review the AGAR to check that governance arrangements are sound, that accounting statements are properly prepared, that public money is being used lawfully.  However such reviews are very light tou...

  This Autumn 3430 fresh water sites were tested by Water Blitz.   60% of these showed poor water quality with unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution. The four last Water Blitz investigations have shown that water quality throughout UK   was at its worst in England.   This Autumn’s tests revealed that 66% of the water sites tested had unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution. Tyrone in N Ireland, Mid Glamorgan in Wales and Scotland sites had the best water quality.   Trent Lower, Trent valley and Staffordshire were found to be the most polluted waterways, and fell within the cohort of the worst polluted waterways in UK.   Cambridgeshire had the lowest water health standards of all, with 91% of the sites tested showing poor ecological status. It was reported that in this blanket test, additional contaminants showed pollution from sewage discharges and agricultural run off.   Concentrations of   antibiotics which suggested that anti-microb...

  Over the years a language can adopt new words, often incorporating words from other languages and countries.   Some words take on new meanings. The media is often responsible for coining new words and phrases that become part of every day speech and writing, eventually. More recently, politics has greatly influenced both language and meaning.   We now have a language of spin where nothing is as it seems and often meanings we once relied upon have now become meaningless.   George Orwell saw it coming and accurately termed it ‘double speak’   ie when the meaning is reversed, and the true meaning is masked. This might have been the case in 1984. In the 21 st Century ‘Truth’ now has a contested meaning.   ‘Honesty’ and ‘morality’ are two others which have become hard to define.    ‘Reality’ no longer exists as a shared experience since it seems it can mean whatever anyone wants it to mean.   So these words, once social anchors are now mea...

  Over the years I have listened to a number of sermons on this topic particularly as it relates to Corinthians 1 Chapter 13. On Sunday I heard another.    Here the erudite Minister was clear that this was not a letter of praise to members of the Church but one of admonition and criticism of how Love/Charity had become interpreted by them and what it had come to mean in their hands. Thus he sets out very clearly what love is certainly not.   As the Minister stated, in this letter – Paul went for the jugular, and was at pains to show how far the institution of the Church had slipped. He stated clearly that it was not about: speaking with the tongues of men and of angels; having understanding and all knowledge or having all faith strong enough to move mountains; It is not about bestowing goods to feed the poor or even doing tangible things.   Because unless all these are accompanied and tempered with love/ charity all this is no better than tinkling brass...

  I came across this item by chance, today, on the reorganisation of local councils within Staffordshire, only to find that the consultation period had already closed. The piece under the name of Cllr Simon Tagg stated : 'Residents should be at the forefront of any changes to the local councils that serve them'. 'We want people to take part in this questionnaire so we hear what is important to them and how they think local councils can deliver services that make a difference, Published: 18 August 2025 Period of consultation now closed.                                                            Staffordshire County Council stated:  ' Residents, visitors and businesses in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme can have their say on the idea on the proposed reorganisation of Local Government.' Staffordshire Cou...