Wirral Council is thought to be the only local authority in Merseyside that will meet its revenue targets, with other areas predicting shortfalls of between £200,000 and £4 million. Collecting so much of what is owed has helped to achieve a low Council Tax increase for Wirral residents, which for 2010/2011, is under half the rate of inflation at 1.67%.

Leader of Wirral Council, Councillor Steve Foulkes explained:

“Our collection rates for Council Tax are very high and we expect that over 99% of outstanding debts will have been collected by the end of the financial year. This strong performance is so important because any shortfall in projections would further increase Council Tax levels for the following year, which is unfair on the majority of people who always pay what is required for their public sector services.

“I think that our success is largely due to the fact that we offer a range of payment methods and dates to residents, with 70% now paying via Direct Debit which is known for being safe and reliable. We also recognise that people sometimes struggle to pay their Council Tax, particularly in the current economic climate. Wherever possible, we have tried to assist these residents at an early stage with special arrangements in line with our Fair Debt Policy.”

Wirral Council collects £122 million each year from 145,000 households and awards almost £30 million in Council Tax Benefit for people on the lowest of incomes.

A full programme of activities – entitled Spring Fun – has been developed in eight local libraries in an effort to promote the benefits of reading, storytelling and singing songs to parents and their young children.

They will also be encouraged to take advantage of the range of activities and opportunities that are on offer at libraries and childrens’ centres all year round.

The programme for each library is as follows:

Bebington

· Monday 8th and 15^th March – Story Time, 10am-10.30am

· Thursday 11th and 18^th March – Baby Bounce and Rhyme, 10.30am-11am

· Friday 12^th March – Tafelmusic, 11am-noon

· Saturday 13^th March – Baby Bounce and Rhyme, 10.30am-11am

· Friday 19^th March – Curtis Watts (Storyteller and Rapper), 11am-noon

· Monday 15^th March – Rachel (Sing and Sign), 2pm-3pm

· Thursday 18^th March – Purvei Parikh (Indian dance and stories), 2pm-3pm

Bromborough

· Monday 8^th, Friday 12^th, Monday 15^th and Friday 19^th March – Story and Rhyme Time, 2pm-2.30pm.

· Tuesday 9^th March – John Piper (Puppets), 9.30am-10.30am.

· Friday 12^th March – Tafelmusic, 9.30am-10.30am

· Monday 15^th March – Rachel (Sing and Sign), 11.30am-12.30pm

· Thursday 18^th March – Purvei Parikh (Indian dance and stories), 9.30am-10.30am

· Friday 19^th March – Curtis Watts (Storyteller and Rapper), 9.30am-10.30am

Eastham

· Monday 8^th and 15^th March – Baby Bounce and Rhyme, 10.30am-11am

· Tuesday 9^th March – John Piper (Puppets), 11.30am-12.20pm

· Friday 12^th and 19^th March – Story Time, 10.30am-11.30am

· Thursday 18^th March – Purvei Parikh (Indian dance and stories), 11am-noon

Greasby

· Monday 8^th March – Rachel (Sing and Sign), 2pm-3pm

· Thursday 11^th March – Purvei Parikh (Indian dance and stories), 9.30am-10.30am

· Friday 12^th and 19^th March – Baby Bounce and Rhyme, 10.30am-11am

· Saturday 13^th March – Treasure Trove (Puppets), 9.30am-10.30am; Story Time, 11am-11.20am; Hilary Keating (Author and Storyteller) 11.30am-12.30pm.

· Monday 15^th March – Story Time, 2.30pm-3pm

· Tuesday 16^th March – Craft session, 9.30am-10.30am

· Thursday 18^th March – Treasure Trove (Puppets), 9.30am-10.30am

Heswall

· Monday 8^th March – Rachel (Sing and Sign), 11.30am-noon; Under 5s Story Time, 2.30pm-3pm

· Thursday 11^th March – Purvei Parikh (Indian dance and stories), 11am-noon

· Friday 12^th March – Baby Bounce and Rhyme, 10.30am-11am

· Saturday 13^th March – Hilary Keating (Author and Storyteller) 9.30am-10.30am; Story Time 11am-11.20am; Treasure Trove (Puppets) 11.30am-12.30pm

· Monday 15^th March – Under 5s Story Time, 2.30pm-3pm

· Tuesday 16^th March – Craft session, 2pm-3pm

· Thursday 18^th March – Treasure Trove (Puppets), 2pm-3pm.

Pensby

· Monday 8^th March – Tafelmusic, 9.30am-10.30am

· Tuesday 9^th and 16^th March – Baby Bounce and Rhyme, 10.30am-11am

· Friday 12^th March – Curtis Watts (Storyteller and Rapper), 9.30am-10.30am

· Tuesday 16^th March – Story Time, 2.15pm-2.45pm

· Thursday 18^th March – Treasure Trove (Puppets), 11.30am-12.20pm

Irby

· Monday 8^th March – Tafelmusic, 11am-noon

· Tuesday 9^th March – John Piper (Puppets), 2pm-3pm

· Thursday 11^th March – Purvei Parikh (Indian dance and stories), 2pm-3pm

· Friday 12^th March – Curtis Watts (Storyteller and Rapper), 11am-noon

· Tuesday 16^th March – Story Time, 2.15pm-2.45pm

Higher Bebington

· Tuesday 9^th March – Story Time, 2.15pm-2.45pm