Improve your culinary skills?
Livv Housing Group
Are you keen to improve your culinary skills? Bored of eating the same meals?

In partnership with Alchemic Kitchen, we’re looking for people to get involved in our upcoming food workshops. We’ll be hosting a taster workshop in your area on: Thursday 7 July 11am - 2pm.
Location: Knowsley Heights
the workshops will involve:
•Cookery demonstrations
•Recipes to take home
•Fresh food parcels from fruit and vegetable van
•General advice around food and cookery

For more information contact
•Keenan on 07764 436 707 or
•Kathryn on 07342 054 861
T
COVID-19 are on the rise again across the UK
Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise again across the UK according to the latest statistics. Residents are being asked to take steps to reduce the spread of the virus and help protect our communities. This includes:

Regular hand washing

Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces

Continue to keep rooms well ventilated

Meet outdoors rather than indoors wherever possible
Ca…
See more
ChatHealth is a confidential text messaging service for 11-19 year olds in Knowsley.
Cervical Screening
Cervical screening can help stop cervical cancer. Is you’re test overdue? Book it in this week!
Check out our screening information and tips:
Knowsley Sporting Legends Relay
Another major event as part of Knowsley's year as @LpoolCityRegion
Borough of Culture. The Knowsley Sporting Legends Relay is a week-long celebration of sport across Knowsley and you can get involved! Click here for more details https://orlo.uk/ZtUnN
COVID-19 vaccination appointment
Knowsley Council is working in partnership with Healthwatch Knowsley to help residents get to and from their COVID-19 vaccination appointment. If you’re a Knowsley resident and don’t have access to transport, call 0151 449 3954 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).
NHS website to support those with Long COVID
NHS website to support those with Long COVID
A new website has been launched to support people who are suffering with COVID-19 and Long COVID.
Your COVID Recovery has been developed by leading academic and clinical representatives from a number of nationally recognised organisations and provides a wide range of support and information.
COVID-19 effects people in a variety of ways and many people suffering or recovering from the virus continue to feel the impact of it on their minds and bodies. The NHS Your COVID Recovery website informs people to understand what is happening and provides advice on how to manage any long-term impacts from the virus.
The website also offers information for family, friends and carers who are providing emotional or physical support to someone following their COVID illness.
Visit https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/
Eye Spy the Owl and Pussycat

Eye spy with my little eye, something beginning with ‘O’ & ‘P’!
Next week, 32 huge owl and pussycat sculptures will go on display across Knowsley as part of a free public sculpture trail.
But before they start their intrepid journey these 2-metre-high creatures were assembled at a secret location in Knowsley for final checks – ensuring they’re ready for their close up!
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council was joined by Mike Harden, Knowsley Council’s Chief Executive, the Mayor and Mayoress of Knowsley and representatives of Wild In Art to see these magnificent sculptures together.
Cllr Graham Morgan said:
“It was quite something to see these fantastic sculptures standing side by side before they take their places across the borough. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work to bring this to Knowsley and we’re so proud to be hosting the trail. It is a real highlight of our year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture.”
The trail is made up of 32 large scale sculptures painted by artists from all over the UK (including some Knowsley and Liverpool City Region talent too) with a further 50 smaller scale ones painted by local primary and secondary school children.
Each sculpture is unique and takes its inspiration from Knowsley’s rich heritage including Prescot’s clock and watch making past, Blackie the WW1 War Horse and Huyton’s coal mining industrial history as well as Knowsley’s ongoing cultural achievements with many sculptures reflecting the soon to open Shakespeare North Playhouse.

Mayor and Mayoress of Knowsley stand with a Shakespeare inspired sculpture

Waiting patiently until they begin their journey across the borough

A line up of owls
Cllr Morgan continued: “Knowsley has so much heritage and culture to celebrate, and each sculpture truly has its own character that reflects this broad and important history. As well as being for our residents and communities the trail is a brilliant opportunity for visitors outside Knowsley to enjoy the trail and learn more about our borough.”
The incredible sculptures have all been produced by Wild in Art which has presented other sculpture trails in the city region, most notably the Superlambanana sculpture trail in 2008 as part Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebrations.
Nick Byrne, Business Director, Wild in Art said: “We can’t wait for the public to see these beautiful sculptures. This has been a fantastic opportunity for artists across the UK to showcase their talents as well as the talents of Knowsley’s school children. We’re delighted to have collaborated with Knowsley Council on this project and to be playing such a key role in the borough’s year as Borough of Culture.”
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat sculpture trail is a celebration of Knowsley’s connection to Edward Lear who wrote his world-famous poem The Owl & the Pussy-Cat during his time at Knowsley Hall. You can read more about Lear’s connection to Knowsley here www.cultureknowsley.co.uk/edward-lear-and-his-time-in-knowsley/
A map and downloadable app will be available once the trail officially launches to the public.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BOROUGH OF CULTURE
To find out more about our year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture, follow @cultureknowsley on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and visit www.cultureknowsley.co.uk
Making Provision for the exercise of public rights
Making-provision-for-the-exercise-of-public-rights-2021-22
WHAT SMALLER AUTHORITIES NEED TO DO TO ADVERTISE THE PERIOD DURING WHICH ELECTORS AND INTERESTED PERSONS MAY EXERCISE RIGHTS RELATING TO THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS
The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require that:
- The accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested, during a period of 30 working days set by the smaller authority and including the first 10 working days of July.
- The period referred to in paragraph (1) starts with the day on which the period for the exercise of public rights is treated as having been commenced i.e. the day following the day on which all of the obligations in paragraph (3) below have been fulfilled.
- The responsible financial officer for a relevant authority must, on behalf of that authority, publish (which must include publication on the authority’s website):
- the Accounting Statements (i.e. Section 2 of either Form 2 or 3, whichever is relevant, of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR)), accompanied by:
- a declaration, signed by that officer to the effect that the status of the Accounting Statements are unaudited and that the Accounting Statements as published may be subject to change;
- the Annual Governance Statement (i.e. Section 1 of either Form 2 or Form 3, whichever is relevant, of the AGAR); and
- a statement that sets out—
- the period for the exercise of public rights;
- details of the manner in which notice should be given of an intention to inspect the accounting records and other documents;
- the name and address of the local auditor;
- the provisions contained in section 26 (inspection of documents etc.) and section 27 (right to make objections at audit) of the Act, as they have effect in relation to the authority in question;
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
- You will meet statutory requirements if you fully and accurately complete the notice of public rights pro forma in this document, and
- Publish (including publication on the smaller authority’s website) the following documents, the day before the public rights period commences:
- the approved Sections 1 and 2 of either Form 2 or 3, whichever is relevant to your smaller authority, of the AGAR; and
- the completed Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Unaudited Annual Governance & Accountability Return. Please note that we have pre-completed it with the following suggested dates: Monday 13 June – Friday 22 July 2022. (The latest possible dates that comply with the statutory requirements are Friday 1 July –Thursday 11 August 2022); and
- the notes which accompany the Notice (Local authority accounts: a summary of your rights).
Smaller authority name: KNOWSLEY TOWN COUNCIL
NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND PUBLICATION OF UNAUDITED ANNUAL GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 26 and 27
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)
NOTICE |
NOTES |
1. Date of announcement: Friday 10 June 2022 (a)
2. Each year the smaller authority’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. The unaudited AGAR has been published with this notice. As it has yet to be reviewed by the appointed auditor, it is subject to change as a result of that review.
Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31 March 2022, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to:
(b) Heather Weightman (Clerk of Council), Bob Whiley Community Centre,
Shop Road, Knowsley Village, Merseyside. L34 0HD. Tel: 0151 548 4545
Email: heather.weightman@knowsley.gov.uk. or Jane Thomas (Deputy
Clerk) Email: jane.thomas@knowsley.gov.uk.
commencing on (c) __Monday 13 June 2022 _________. ______________
and ending on (d) ___Friday 22 July 2022 ________________________
3. Local government electors and their representatives also have:
· The opportunity to question the appointed auditor about the accounting records; and
· The right to make an objection which concerns a matter in respect of which the appointed auditor could either make a public interest report or apply to the court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority.
The appointed auditor can be contacted at the address in paragraph 4 below for this purpose between the above dates only.
4. The smaller authority’s AGAR is subject to review by the appointed auditor under the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the NAO’s Code of Audit Practice 2015. The appointed auditor is:
PKF Littlejohn LLP (Ref: SBA Team)
15 Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London E14 4HD
(sba@pkf-l.com)
5. This announcement is made by (e) Heather Weightman (Clerk of Council)
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(a) Insert date of placing of the notice which must be not less than 1 day before the date in (c) below
(b) Insert name, position and address/telephone number/ email address, as appropriate, of the Clerk or other person to which any person may apply to inspect the accounts
(c) Insert date, which must be at least 1 day after the date of announcement in (a) above and at least 30 working days before the date appointed in (d) below
(d) The inspection period between (c) and (d) must be 30 working days inclusive and must include the first 10 working days of July.
(e) Insert name and position of person placing the notice – this person must be the responsible financial officer for the smaller authority |
LOCAL AUTHORITY ACCOUNTS: A SUMMARY OF YOUR RIGHTS
Please note that this summary applies to all relevant smaller authorities, including local councils, internal drainage boards and ‘other’ smaller authorities.
The basic position
The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (the Act) governs the work of auditors appointed to smaller authorities. This summary explains the provisions contained in Sections 26 and 27 of the Act. The Act and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 also cover the duties, responsibilities and rights of smaller authorities, other organisations and the public concerning the accounts being audited.
As a local elector, or an interested person, you have certain legal rights in respect of the accounting records of smaller authorities. As an interested person you can inspect accounting records and related documents. If you are a local government elector for the area to which the accounts relate you can also ask questions about the accounts and object to them. You do not have to pay directly for exercising your rights. However, any resulting costs incurred by the smaller authority form part of its running costs. Therefore, indirectly, local residents pay for the cost of you exercising your rights through their council tax.
The right to inspect the accounting records
Any interested person can inspect the accounting records, which includes but is not limited to local electors. You can inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records. You can copy all, or part, of these records or documents. Your inspection must be about the accounts, or relate to an item in the accounts. You cannot, for example, inspect or copy documents unrelated to the accounts, or that include personal information (Section 26 (6) – (10) of the Act explains what is meant by personal information). You cannot inspect information which is protected by commercial confidentiality. This is information which would prejudice commercial confidentiality if it was released to the public and there is not, set against this, a very strong reason in the public interest why it should nevertheless be disclosed.
When smaller authorities have finished preparing accounts for the financial year and approved them, they must publish them (including on a website). There must be a 30 working day period, called the ‘period for the exercise of public rights’, during which you can exercise your statutory right to inspect the accounting records. Smaller authorities must tell the public, including advertising this on their website, that the accounting records and related documents are available to inspect. By arrangement you will then have 30 working days to inspect and make copies of the accounting records. You may have to pay a copying charge. The 30 working day period must include a common period of inspection during which all smaller authorities’ accounting records are available to inspect. This will be 1-14 July 2022 for 2021/22 accounts. The advertisement must set out the dates of the period for the exercise of public rights, how you can communicate to the smaller authority that you wish to inspect the accounting records and related documents, the name and address of the auditor, and the relevant legislation that governs the inspection of accounts and objections.
The right to ask the auditor questions about the accounting records
You should first ask your smaller authority about the accounting records, since they hold all the details. If you are a local elector, your right to ask questions of the external auditor is enshrined in law. However, while the auditor will answer your questions where possible, they are not always obliged to do so. For example, the question might be better answered by another organisation, require investigation beyond the auditor’s remit, or involve disproportionate cost (which is borne by the local taxpayer). Give your smaller authority the opportunity first to explain anything in the accounting records that you are unsure about. If you are not satisfied with their explanation, you can question the external auditor about the accounting records.
The law limits the time available for you formally to ask questions. This must be done in the period for the exercise of public rights, so let the external auditor know your concern as soon as possible. The advertisement or notice that tells you the accounting records are available to inspect will also give the period for the exercise of public rights during which you may ask the auditor questions, which here means formally asking questions under the Act. You can ask someone to represent you when asking the external auditor questions.
Before you ask the external auditor any questions, inspect the accounting records fully, so you know what they contain. Please remember that you cannot formally ask questions, under the Act, after the end of the period for the exercise of public rights. You may ask your smaller authority other questions about their accounts for any year, at any time. But these are not questions under the Act.
You can ask the external auditor questions about an item in the accounting records for the financial year being audited. However, your right to ask the external auditor questions is limited. The external auditor can only answer ‘what’ questions, not ‘why’ questions. The external auditor cannot answer questions about policies, finances, procedures or anything else unless it is directly relevant to an item in the accounting records. Remember that your questions must always be about facts, not opinions. To avoid misunderstanding, we recommend that you always put your questions in writing.
The right to make objections at audit
You have inspected the accounting records and asked your questions of the smaller authority. Now you may wish to object to the accounts on the basis that an item in them is in your view unlawful or there are matters of wider concern arising from the smaller authority’s finances. A local government elector can ask the external auditor to apply to the High Court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, or to issue a report on matters which are in the public interest. You must tell the external auditor which specific item in the accounts you object to and why you think the item is unlawful, or why you think that a public interest report should be made about it. You must provide the external auditor with the evidence you have to support your objection. Disagreeing with income or spending does not make it unlawful. To object to the accounts you must write to the external auditor stating you want to make an objection, including the information and evidence below and you must send a copy to the smaller authority. The notice must include:
- confirmation that you are an elector in the smaller authority’s area;
- why you are objecting to the accounts and the facts on which you rely;
- details of any item in the accounts that you think is unlawful; and
- details of any matter about which you think the external auditor should make a public interest report.
Other than it must be in writing, there is no set format for objecting. You can only ask the external auditor to act within the powers available under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.
A final word
You may not use this ‘right to object’ to make a personal complaint or claim against your smaller authority. You should take such complaints to your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau, local Law Centre or to your solicitor. Smaller authorities, and so local taxpayers, meet the costs of dealing with questions and objections. In deciding whether to take your objection forward, one of a series of factors the auditor must take into account is the cost that will be involved, they will only continue with the objection if it is in the public interest to do so. They may also decide not to consider an objection if they think that it is frivolous or vexatious, or if it repeats an objection already considered. If you appeal to the courts against an auditor’s decision not to apply to the courts for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, you will have to pay for the action yourself.
For more detailed guidance on public rights and the special powers of auditors, copies of the publication Local authority accounts: A guide to your rights are available from the NAO website. |
If you wish to contact your authority’s appointed external auditor please write to the address in paragraph 4 of the Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Unaudited Annual Governance & Accountability Return.
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Lots of opportunities for post-16 education in Knowsley
Lots of opportunities for post-16 education in Knowsley
May 30, 2022
As we are approaching the end of another academic year, young people in Year 11 will be considering their next step as they prepare to leave school
There’s an array of opportunities for post-16 education in Knowsley and Knowsley’s young people have a successful track record of achieving their goals.
For the last academic year (2020/2021), 98.5% of school leavers in Knowsley went into education, employment or training – this is the highest rate in the Liverpool City Region and is higher than the national rate of 95.5%.
Of the 1,119 school leavers, 1,033 went on to study Level 2 or 3 qualifications in Colleges, Sixth Forms and other further education establishments.
What is available in for Knowsley school-leavers?
At present, further education in Knowsley is available at:-
- Knowsley Community College offering a range of Level 1 to 3 vocational courses and apprenticeships as well as supported learning for Special Educational Needs and / or Disabilities (SEND) students and GCSEs English, Maths and Science
- All Saints Catholic High School Sixth Form offering a range of Level 3 vocational courses in Business, Health and Social care, Uniformed Public Services and Sport alongside A Level Art, Graphics and Textiles
- Bluebell Park – post 16 provision for young people with complex needs including independent living skills alongside creative, sports, horticulture and core curriculum
- Alt Bridge School – post-16 provision for young people with Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) with qualifications in life and living skills, employability and Duke of Edinburgh as well as continuing with English and Maths GCSEs and functional skills
- Flourish Further Education – 19 to 25 provision for young people with very high and complex needs providing an individualised sensory curriculum and life skills
Other popular choices which border Knowsley are:-
There are also a broad range of study options including:-
- A levels
- T levels
- Technical and Vocational qualifications
- Exam retakes
Not only that, students can combine work and study and access:-
- Supported internships – more information can be found on the Knowsley Family Information Service website
- Apprenticeships – a dedicated Knowsley Apprentice scheme operates in Knowsley
- Traineeships
A key priority for the Council is to ensure that young people have the right information and support to help them make the important decision about what to do when they leave school. To help with this, the Council has funded Unifrog for all secondary school students – this is an app which helps school leavers understand their options and make positive choices about their future education, employment, or training. Young people should speak to their school if they want to know how to access the app for free!