It was moved by Councillor McLachlan and seconded by Councillor Williams that:

(1)  This Committee is not satisfied that adequate information has been presented which demonstrates that the revised tender for parks and green spaces will generate substantial savings or achieve significant improvements in value for money for Wirral taxpayers.

(2)  Committee also remains unconvinced that there is wide support from the public of Wirral for the privatisation of our parks and green spaces.

(3)  Committee remains concerned at the continuing refusal of the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Cabinet to allow an in-house bid to be considered.

(4)  Given that the tender has radically changed from the original proposal Committee agrees to refer this matter back to Cabinet and requests that a proper review is carried out of the procurement exercise to demonstrate that value for money will be achieved by out-sourcing together with significant savings and to give staff the opportunity to match any savings in-house and to re-consider the refusal to allow an in-house bid to be tabled.

(5)  The Committee asks that the new Contractor is asked to give an assurance that employees transferring can retain their membership of Merseyside Pension Fund.

The motion was put and lost (3:7)

It was moved by Councillor Hale and seconded by Councillor McCubbin that:

That the recommendations contained in Cabinet minute 287 of 13 January 2011 be endorsed by this committee.

The motion was put and carried (7:3)

It was moved by Councillor Hale and seconded by Councillor McCubbin that:

The Director of Technical Services make every endeavour in his negotiations with the successful tenderer to try and ensure that staff transferred under the TUPE arrangements are admitted to the Merseyside Pension Fund.

The motion was put and carried (10:0).

Resolved –

(1) (7:3) That the recommendations contained in Cabinet minute 287 of 13 January 2011 be endorsed by this committee.

(2) (10:0) That the Director of Technical Services make every endeavour in his negotiations with the successful tenderer to try and ensure that existing staff transferred under the TUPE arrangements are admitted to the Merseyside Pension Fund.

It was moved by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor McLachlan that:

The Committee refers minute 84 back to Cabinet and asks Cabinet to act in accordance with its own principles and suspend any decision on which option to choose until it has undertaken a proper consultation with all the relevant user groups, and with the wider public.

Committee further asks the Cabinet to undertake a proper consultation with the trade unions which shall include a detailed examination of their option to take back the Streetscene Ground Maintenance contract in-house at no extra cost, so producing matching savings to those projected in option three for consideration, while keeping all services in-house, which should then form part of a revised option one for consideration.

The Committee also asks Cabinet to lift any restriction on in-house bids, and to make it clear that there is no legal or technical barrier to in-house bids being lodged if the correct procedures are followed. 

It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Hale and seconded by Councillor Williams that:

(1)  That the recommendations contained in Cabinet minute 84 of 22 July, 2010 be endorsed by this committee.

(2)  That officers ensure that during the period in which the tender document is prepared the widest consultation takes place with all stakeholders, in particular trade unions and user groups.

The amendment was put and carried (6:3)

Resolved (6:3) –

(1)  That the recommendations contained in Cabinet minute 84 of 22 July, 2010 be endorsed by this committee.

(2)  That officers ensure that during the period in which the tender document is prepared the widest consultation takes place with all stakeholders, in particular trade unions and user groups.