I was pleased to read this week that Liverpool City Council has identified funding to help the city's historic Philharmonic Hall take its first step in securing £10m for its much needed refurbishment.

In today's economic climate local councillors have to make really touch spending decisions. Councillors across Merseyside have been put in a difficult situation, and handed some of the biggest cuts in Government funding for local councils.

We've taken bigger cuts than David Cameron's Oxfordshire and George Osborne's Cheshire, so balancing the books isn't easy. And then there's the police, and fire and rescue cuts. The list goes on.

People have used their vote in the local elections to protest against this Tory-led government and let them know that they are unhappy with their policies. Instead of responding to the mood of the nation they have chosen to ignore it.

The Government have already botched their budget, now we've got a next-to-nothing Queen's Speech.

Having held a meeting with Shadow Minister for Care and Older Liz Kendall and constituents in March and listening to the views of people affected by social care in Wirral I know that care is in crisis.

With half an eye on re-shuffles, and recalling our recent success in hosting the Labour conference, I've been reflecting on Merseyside talent.

Did you see this column by journalist Michael Crick? He argues that Liverpool has underperformed in providing the Labour party with political leaders, and has caused my party more problems than providing help, according to Michael. Apparently, conference last month signalled a change in this disconnection.

In the four years I served as a local councillor, and during the past 18 months as a member of parliament, I have consistently avoided questions of local government reorganisation.

Here's why: I've always found that it's not structures that matter, it's leaders. I

found the debate on mayor versus leader and cabinet models of local governance pretty dry, and I suspect I'm not the only one.