To receive the Mayor's announcements and any apologies for absence.

The Mayor referred to the recent tragic and untimely death of Councillor Suzanne Moseley and the Council stood in silent tribute to her memory.

The Leader of the Conservative Group (Councillor Green) paid tribute to Councillor Moseley, an outstanding colleague and representative for Moreton West and Saughall Massie who would be deeply missed.

The Leader of the Labour Group (Councillor Foulkes) and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group (Councillor Gardiner) endorsed the comments of Councillor Green and paid tribute to Councillor Moseley.

The members of the Council are invited to consider whether they have a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any matter to be debated or determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

The Members of the Council were invited to consider whether they had a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any matter to be debated or determined at the meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest. The following declaration was made:

Councillor I Lewis declared a personal interest in respect of minute 43 (Motion: Wirral’s Public Library Provision) by virtue of him being a member of Leasowe Library.

In accordance with Standing Order No. 21, the Mayor received petitions submitted by –

(a) Councillor I Lewis on behalf of hackney licence holders and / or proprietors a petition of 227 signatories requesting an urgent review of supply and demand for Hackney Vehicle Licences;

(b) Councillor D Roberts on behalf of 86 signatories requesting an urgent review of road traffic conditions in Grosvenor Road, Forest Road and Manor Hill and surrounding roads in Oxton;

(c) Councillor D Roberts on behalf of 150 signatories objecting to the proposed closure / amalgamation of Cole Street Primary School and requesting the provision of a brand new school;

(d) Councillor D Knowles on behalf of 521 signatories requesting road safety measures to slow traffic in Park Road, Wallasey and surrounding roads;

(e) Councillor T Anderson on behalf of 25 signatories requesting the urgent resurfacing of Whaley Lane, Irby;

(f) Councillor A Jennings on behalf of 85 signatories requesting traffic calming measures in Mere Lane, Raby Mere.

Resolved - That the petitions be noted and referred to the appropriate chief officer in accordance with Standing Order No. 34.

The Leader of the Council proposed that Standing Order No. 8 (1) be waived in order to allow the Notice of Motion from Councillor Green to be heard, with an amendment, and a further Notice of Motion to be proposed by him.

Resolved (unanimously) -

That Standing Order No. 8 (1) be waived to allow Councillor Green’s Notice of Motion and an amendment and Councillor Foulkes’ Notice of Motion to be heard.

To discuss Cabinet’s decision on 1 October 2009 to rescind its earlier resolution (on 15 January 2009) to close 11 libraries and invest £20m in 13 Neighbourhood Centres; the reasons for that decision and the implications of that decision.

Motion:

Proposed by Councillor Green

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Rennie

(1)  Council condemns the Leader of the Council’s unwillingness to allow any  comment from members of the public or members of the Council at the meeting of the Cabinet on 1st October when he announced their administration’s humiliating ‘U turn’ on Wirral’s Public Library Provision.

(2)  Council notes that we have still not received answers to the following:

Why when the Conservative Group spoke up for the people of Wirral and sought to have the administration’s Library Closure Plan stopped at each opportunity afforded to all members of the Council (15th December 2008, 15th February 2009, 2nd March 2009, 27th April 2009 and the 15th July 2009) the Labour/Liberal Democrat administration failed to take these opportunities and instead continued to spend Wirral tax payers money (officer time, glossy leaflets, hiring a barrister, phoning around libraries to see what they offer to the public)?

Why did the Labour/Liberal Democrat Administration before even launching this policy, or even when they chose to include Eastham and Woodchurch libraries, not conduct an equality impact assessment into its implications or seek to include library users in a meaningful and open consultation process?

Why, when they have had a copy of Sue Charteris’ report for more than a month they have chosen not to share its emerging recommendations with the Council and Wirral public or even informed us of which ‘facts’ they have chosen to contest?

Why in their statements to the Cabinet and the press have they not accepted they were wrong or apologised to library staff or Wirral residents, some of whom are the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities, for the upset and heartache they have caused by pursuing their flagship policy of library closures?

(3)  Council therefore believes that the current Labour/Liberal Democrat Administration cannot offer Wirral residents any believable assurance that they have the capacity to listen and learn or change their approach to one of listening and including Wirral people in the Council’s decision making process.

(4)  Council, while expressing its delight that our libraries will remain open have concluded that:

No change of Wirral’s administration is not an option and that the current Labour/Liberal Democrat Cabinet, humiliated as it is by its own reversal of its defining policy, is clearly out of ideas, out of touch and should be out of office.

It has lost the trust and confidence of Wirral residents and must, at last, take the honourable course and resign.

Amendment:

Proposed by Councillor Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Mrs P M Williams

(1)  Council believes that the Motion proposed by Councillor Green and seconded by Councillor Mrs Rennie should be properly and fully considered as soon as the Secretary of State has considered the report of the Inquiry by Sue Charteris and published his decision.

(2)  Council recognises that it is in the interests of local democracy for the fullest consideration to take place of the findings, through Cabinet reports, through Overview and Scrutiny and such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider any other items of business that the Mayor accepts as being urgent.

The Mayor introduced Shirley Hudspeth, the new Democratic Services Manager, to Members of the Council.