About Wrinehill

  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...

 From the Minutes of the last Parish Council meeting it was disclosed that Cllr Berrisford gave a report to the parish council on the closure of the landfill site in Newcastle-under-Lyme.  This seemed surprising given that it was the Chair of  Betley Parish Council - who was also the Borough Councillor for Thistleberry (where the landfill site is located), was a member of the WQL Liaison Committee and who also chaired the 'Inquiry' into the health impacts of the site on the local community.  There appeared to be no written report circulated or appended to the Minutes so it is unclear what was said at this meeting, and the Minutes did not record what was actually said.   Mention had been made in the past, that odours detected in the parish were coming from the Landfill site in Newcastle.   This would be highly unlikely.  It would be more likely that they were coming from the sewage works behind the Village Hall- certainly detected from the bow...

 The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is currently promoting the Civility and Respect Pledge in an effort to improve the behaviour of Chairs, Clerks and Councillors, particularly in Parish Councils. And what I am hearing from other councillors - mainly women - not to mention my own experience of being a Parish Councillor in Betley, change is long overdue. The Civility and Respect Pledge that councils and other related institutions and organisations such as Borough Councils and County Councils, Churches, is not a big thing.  In the main it calls for a an awareness of bad behaviour, inequality, sexism and misogyny, with a view to amending how that behaviour is played out especially in the work place and elsewhere. The pledge asks for common sense (in the main) adjustments: 1.  Has put in place a training programme for councillors and staff (no) 2.   Has signed up to the Code of Conduct for councillors (in a manner of speaking) 3.  Has good govern...