Meeting documents
Council
Monday, 16th July 2007
Venue : Council Chamber (Wallasey) - Wallasey Town Hall
Index to Agendas
Item 1 - MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS
Summary:
To receive the Mayor's announcements and any apologies for absence.
Item 2 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Summary:
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.
Item 3 - PETITIONS
Summary:
To receive petitions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 21.
Item 4 - MINUTES
Summary:
To receive as a correct record the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 14 and 21 May 2007 and of the meeting held on 25 June.
Item 5 - PROCEEDINGS OF CABINET AND COMMITTEES
Summary:
To receive the proceedings, resolutions, recommendations and reports of the Cabinet and committees, meeting on the dates indicated below, subject to any amendments approved by the Council.
Cabinet - 24 May, 7 and 20 June and 10 July;
Executive Board - 12 and 26 April;
Audit and Risk Management - 28 June;
Employment and Appointments - 25 and 28 June and 10 July (4.30 & 5.15 pm);
Licensing Act 2003 Committee - 30 May;
Licensing, Health & Safety and General Purposes - 30 May;
Pensions - 2 July;
Planning - 19 April, 17 and 31 May and 21 June;
Standards - 2 July;
Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning - 23 May;
Community and Customer Engagement - 4 June;
Culture, Tourism and Leisure - 14 June;
Corporate Services - 6 June;
Environment - 6 June;
Finance and Best Value -19 June;
Housing and Community Safety - 11 June;
Regeneration and Planning Strategy - 4 June;
Social Care, Health and Inclusion - 19 June;
Streetscene and Transport Services - 7 June.
Item 6 - QUESTIONS
Summary:
To deal with questions from councillors and from members of the public, in accordance with Standing Order 11 and the appendix to Standing Order 5(1)(j).
Item 7 - MATTERS REFERRED FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES
Summary:
To consider and determine any references from overview and scrutiny committees.
Item 8 - NOTICES OF MOTION
Summary:
The following motions have been submitted in accordance with the notice required by Standing Order 8(1) and are listed in the order received:
(A) E-PETITIONS
Proposed by Councillor Green
Seconded by Councillor Mrs Rennie
" (1) This Council recognises the perceived disenchantment of the public with local politics and the need to increase engagement with Council’s activities.
(2) Council therefore believes that, in the interests of accountability, openness and transparency, Wirral Council should adopt a public initiative mechanism which would allow residents the opportunity to prioritise Council debates via e-petitions.
(3) Council acknowledges that such a public initiative procedure will give more people the power to drive forward the issues that they believe are important and would like to see debated in the Council Chamber.
(4) Council therefore proposes that officers, in consultation with members, provide an options report for early consideration to include:
- the creation of an e-petition system and associated costs;
- an indication of how e-petitions received could be prioritised for Council debates;
- guidance for the public on the formation of an e-petition and any required safeguards."
(B) POST OFFICE CLOSURES
Proposed by Councillor Reisdorf
Seconded by Councillor Bridson
" (1) This Council notes that:
(i) the Government has decided to press ahead with plans to close Post Office branches, despite public opposition during the consultation process;
(ii) 4,000 Post Office branches have been closed since Tony Blair’s Labour government came to power in 1997;
(iii) Gordon Brown’s Labour government plans to close at least a further 2,500 branches;
(iv) 3,500 Post Office branches were closed under the last Conservative government;
(v) the Government has directly or indirectly overseen the Post Office losing TV licence, vehicle excise duty and passport authentication work;
(vi) in 2004 the Licensing, Health & Safety and General Purposes Committee opposed the previous round of Post Office closures.
(2) This Council reaffirms its belief that Post Offices are a vital part of our local communities.
(3) Therefore, Council resolves:
(i) to write to the Government to ask them to stop the unnecessary Post Office closure programme, and instead free the business from restrictive regulation, invest in the future of the network and stop removing Government business, in order to safeguard our post offices;
(ii) to request that Wirral’s MPs also lobby the Government to support such a policy;
(iii) that, if the Government proceeds with the closure programme, this Council will oppose the further reduction of the Post Office network within the Borough."
(C) MERSEYSIDE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
Proposed by Councillor Foulkes
Seconded by Councillor PL Davies
" This Council thanks Councillor Peter Johnson for the loyal service he has given over many years as this Council’s Conservative representative on the Fire Authority, and expresses its belief that his presence and experience will be sorely missed."
(D) SCHOOLS CAPITAL FUNDING 2007/08
Proposed by Councillor PL Davies
Seconded by Councillor PA Smith
" (1) This Council expresses its satisfaction that the Government’s substantial capital investment in the Borough’s schools will be extended during 2007/08 to a range of initiatives including modernisation, increasing access for pupils with disabilities, new children’s centres, the extended schools programme, City Learning Centre on-going capital, upgrading children’s homes, support for aided schools, refurbishment of playing fields, kitchen replacements and formula capital devolved to individual schools.
(2) These improvements will mean that a total of £25.5m of capital funding will be invested in Wirral schools during 2007/08. Council notes the contrast between this figure and the £1.9m spent in 1996, the last year of Conservative rule.
(3) Council further welcomes the establishment of a new Department of Children, Schools and Families, which will help the Government to maintain its focus on education and children’s services.
(4) Council expresses its concern about the confusion over the future of our grammar schools resulting from recent disagreements within the Conservative Party."
(E) SAINTS PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH, NEW BRIGHTON
Proposed by Councillor Pritchard
Seconded by Councillor Paul Hayes
" (1) This Council recognises the importance of retaining historic monuments and their value to the community.
(2) Council therefore believes that in the interests of preserving our heritage Wirral Council should support the campaign to ‘Save our unique landmark’ and not support any option which would result in Ss Peter and Paul’s Church being demolished or left to deteriorate into a dilapidated state.
(3) Council recognises that over 3000 Wirral residents have signed a petition to support this initiative.
(4) Council asks that the Chief Executive writes to the Bishop of Shrewsbury to request that the opinions of all Wirral residents are considered and that the Trustees of Diocese of Shrewsbury do not consider any option that would result in Ss Peter and Paul’s Church being demolished or left to deteriorate into a dilapidated state."
Item 9 - MATTERS FOR DEBATE
Summary:
Pursuant to Standing Order 5(1)(l), and in accordance with Standing Order 5(3), to consider written comments, objections or amendments to minutes submitted under Standing Order 12(1), together with those motions submitted under item 8 above that the Council accepts for debate at this meeting and any minority reports submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(2).
Item 10 - REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION
Summary:
The Council is recommended to approve the changes to the Constitution that are proposed as a result of the recent review. These will be contained in a minute from the Cabinet meeting on 10 July.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
- Report of the Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Corporate Services
- Appendix
- Part 1 of the Draft Constitution
- Part 2 of the Draft Constitution
- Part 3 of the Draft Constitution
- Part 4 of the Draft Constitution
- Part 5 of the Draft Constitution
- Part 6 of the Draft Constitution
- Part 7 of the Draft Constitution
Item 11 - VACANCIES
Summary:
To receive nominations, in accordance with Standing Order 25(5), in respect of changes (if any) in the membership of the Cabinet and committees, and to approve nominations for appointments to outside organisations.
Item 12 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Summary:
To consider any other items of business that the Mayor accepts as being urgent.
Agenda Published: 6 July 2007