First came a debate on four fire pumps that have been taken out of use. Council chief executive was required to write to chief fire officer Tony McGuirk to call for their re-instatement. Education supremo Keith Turner was worried that the pumps might be brought back into use to then be removed after the election. HERE is a previous story on the subject.

Then the touch paper was lit in a row with the Government after the city ran out of salt stocks. I've spent all day trying to get to the bottom of it, and the truth is I am none the wiser where the blame lies. That there has been a breakdown in communication between Government agencies, the council, and the salt supplier seems clear though. Could it be that everyone and no one is to blame? Read tomorrow's paper for the full story.

Expect executive board meetings to generate more stories in the run up to the May election as the Liberal Democrats seek to stay in control of the Town Hall.

Then Labour leader Joe Anderson kicked off his campaign with a New Year message on the party's new website this afternoon.

He is far more direct about his message:

"So as much as this is a New Year message, it should also be taken as a statement of intent from Liverpool Labour: We are ready to meet the challenges we face as a city head on. We are determined, ready to fight out city's corner, and make sure we begin to punch our weight as a major international city. And we are ready to pull together and work with stake holders at all levels - be they the city's business leaders, the city's workers, the council's staff, or the residents of Liverpool. All have a stake in the future of our city, and Liverpool Labour is ready to give a full blooded commitment to working along side them.
 
For too long, the Liberal Democrats have offered us half hearted, part time, small scale leadership. It is high time Liverpool started to think big - and Liverpool Labour are ready to lead the way."

So we can look to lively debates both locally and nationally, let the games campaigns begin.