Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Wallasey Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Mark Delap  Principal Committee Officer

Items
No. Item

Prior to the first item of business, in the absence of his chaplain the Revd Beth Glover, the Mayor invited her curate, the Revd Maureen Coats to lead the Council in prayers.

68.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of the Council are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant 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.

Minutes:

Members of the Council were asked to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant 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.

 

Councillors Steve Foulkes and Stuart Whittingham declared their personal interest in agenda item 5C (Council Budget 2014/2015) by virtue of them being Board Members of Magenta Living.

 

Councillors Mrs Lesley Rennie and Jean Stapleton declared their interest in agenda item 5C (Council Budget 2014/2015) by virtue of their membership of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority.

 

Councillor Denise Roberts declared her interest in agenda 5C (Council Budget 2014/2015) by virtue of her being a member of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority and a Board Member of Magenta Living.

 

Councillor Steve Niblock declared his interest in agenda item 5C (Council Budget 2014/2015) by virtue of him being a member of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority and a tenant of Magenta Living.

 

Councillor Jeff Green declared his interest in agenda item 5C (Council Budget 2014/2015) in so far as it related to the Schools Budget, by virtue of his wife’s employment as a teacher.

 

Councillor Les Rowlands declared his interest in agenda item 5C (Council Budget 2014/2015) in so far as it related to the Schools Budget, by virtue of his wife’s employment in the Children and Young People’s Department.

69.

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Minutes:

The Mayor referred to the commemoration for HMS Birkenhead on 5 March 2014, to which all Members had been invited. He requested that any Member wishing to attend contact his secretary, who was finalising the arrangements.

 

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Paul Hayes

70.

PETITIONS

To receive petitions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 21.

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order 21, the Mayor received petitions submitted by –

 

Councillor Stuart Whittingham on behalf of 164 signatories requesting the Council to stop the sale of two areas of land in Upton

 

Councillor Alan Brighouse on behalf of 30 signatories from the Oxton area, requesting the resurfacing of Glenmore, Kylemore and Templemore Roads

 

Councillor Adam Sykes on behalf of 234 signatories from parents of Brackenwood Infant School, objecting to the school crossing patrol having to be funded from the school’s budget

 

Councillor Ian Lewis on behalf of 382 signatories objecting to the sale of Fernbank Farm, Upton

 

Councillor Chris Blakeley on behalf of 189 signatories objecting to the sale of Fernbank Farm, Upton

 

Resolved – That the petitions be noted and referred to the appropriate Chief Officer in accordance with Standing Order 34

71.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 139 KB

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16 December, 2013.

Minutes:

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 16 December 2013 had been circulated to Members and, it was –

 

Resolved – That the minutes be approved and adopted as a correct record

72.

Procedure

Minutes:

On a motion by Councillor Bill Davies and seconded by Councillor Brian Kenny, it was –

 

Resolved (Unanimously) – That Standing Order 9 be applied at 8.30pm

73.

MATTERS REQUIRING APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 35 KB

A.  Budget Council Procedure

 

Cabinet – 16 January, 2014

Minute 134 is attached together with appendix 1 to the report.

(Pages 19 - 26)

 

B.  Suspension of Standing Orders of the Council’s Constitution

 

(i)  Standing Order 12(1)relates to ‘Motions and Amendments’ and provides that:

 

“A motion or amendment shall relate to a recommendation of a committee submitted in accordance with Standing Order 5.2(l), or to a matter referred to in Standing Orders 7 and 8. It shall not be discussed unless it has been proposed and seconded.

 

The terms of any amendment or notice of motion shall not be varied except with the agreement of the Council.”

 

(ii)  Standing Order 12(9) relates to ‘Amendments’ and provides that:

 

“Subject to Standing Order 7(5) an amendment to a motion or recommendation of the Cabinet or of a Committee shall be relevant to the motion or recommendation under consideration and shall be either:

 

(a) to refer or refer back a subject of debate for consideration or reconsideration as the case may be; 

(b) to leave out words;

(c) to leave out words and insert or add others;

(d) to insert or add words.

 

as long as the effect of any amendment is not to negate the motion or recommendation.”

 

(iii)  Standing Order 12(10) relates to ‘Amendments to be dealt with in order’ and provides that:

 

“Only one amendment may be moved and discussed at a time”.

 

For the purposes of the Budget Debate, Council is requested to suspend:

 

(a)  Standing Orders 12(1) insofar as it relates to amendments;

(b)  Standing Order 12(9); and

(c)  Standing Order 12(10).

 

C.  Council Budget 2014/15

 

On a motion by the Leader of the Council, to approve recommendations from the Cabinet meeting held on 12 February, 2014, subject to consideration of any amendments received in accordance with the approved Budget Council Procedure.

 

If the proposed budget is amended or an alternative budget proposal(s) carried, whether whole or in part, that will be regarded as an in-principle decision, which will automatically come into effect five working days from the date of that decision, unless the Leader of the Council informs the Head of Legal and Member Services in writing within that time that he objects to the decision becoming effective and provides reasons why.

 

In such circumstances, the Head of Legal and Member Services will call another meeting of the Council within seven working days. The Council will then be required to reconsider its decision, and the Leader of the Council’s written submission, at this further Council meeting. (A reserve date of Tuesday, 4 March 2014 has been set aside for considering any written submission by the Leader of the Council, should that be necessary). 

 

At that second meeting the Council can:

 

(i).  accept the Cabinet’s recommendation without amendment; or

 

(ii).approve a different decision which does not accord with the Cabinet’s recommendation, by a simple majority of votes cast at the meeting.

 

The minutes of the Cabinet (Budget Meeting) held on 12 February, 2014 are attached (pages 27  ...  view the full agenda text for item 73.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Five matters were submitted for approval by the Council (see minutes 74 to 78 post)

 

The Mayor drew to Members’ attention a letter dated 4 February 2014 that had been circulated from Brandon Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Department for Communities and Local Government, in relation to recorded votes at Budget Meetings. To take account of Brandon Lewis’ representations in his letter concerning ‘The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014’ as far as practicably possible, the Head of Legal and Member Services had proposed that the Budget Council Procedure be amended so that card votes would be taken on the Cabinet budget recommendation, amendments to the Cabinet budget recommendation and the Council Tax report only.

74.

Budget Council Procedure

Minutes:

On a motion by Councillor Phil Davies and seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan, it was –

 

Resolved (63:0) (One abstention) – That minute 134 (Cabinet – 16 January 2014), related to the Budget Council Procedure, as amended, be approved.

75.

Suspension of Standing Orders of the Council's Constitution

Minutes:

On a motion by Councillor Phil Davies and seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan, it was –

 

Resolved (63:0) (One abstention) – That, for the purposes of the Budget Debate, the following standing orders be suspended –

 

(a)  Standing Order 12(1) insofar as it related to amendments

(b)  Standing Order 12(9)

(c)  Standing Order 12(10)

76.

Council Budget 2014/2015

Minutes:

In accordance with the agreed Budget Council Procedure, as amended, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Phil Davies, moved the Cabinet’s recommended Budget to Council set out in Cabinet Minutes 143 to144 and 146 to 148 of 12 February 2014, duly seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan (Deputy Leader) –

 

(i)  Minute 143 (Cabinet – 12 February 2014)

Revenue Budget 2014/2017

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the savings 2014/2017, set out at Appendices A1 and A2 be confirmed.

 

(2)  That the Budget Growth 2014/2017, set out in Appendix 2 be agreed and the detail be built into the Budget.

 

(3)  That the fees and charges be noted and delegated authority be given to the Director of Resources to update the Council Fees and Charges Directory prior to publication before 1 April 2014.

 

(4)  That the level of General Fund balances recommended continues to be based on a locally determined approach to the assessment of the financial risks that the Council may face in the future and that the Council maintains balances at, or above, this level.

 

(5)  That the release of Provisions and Reserves by Directorates be agreed and that a Remodelling/Restructure reserve be created from the reserves released together with the amalgamation of the Budget Support 2014/2015 and Equal Pay reserves.

 

(6)  That the Chief Financial Officer Statement regarding the robustness of the estimates made for the purpose of the Budget and the adequacy of the General Fund balances and reserves (Appendix 6) be noted.

 

(7)  That the following Budget Resolution be agreed and recommended to the Council:

 

BUDGET RESOLUTION 2014/2015

 

National Context

 

Wirral Council continues to face unprecedented cuts in its budget by central government. By the end of 2016 the Council’s main revenue grant will have been cut by over 50% since 2010. At the same time, we are facing increasing demand for services such as social care and residents are being hit by the government’s decision to cut welfare benefits, introduce iniquitous measures such as the Bedroom Tax, and allow energy companies to impose huge increases in energy prices. To make matters worse, since May 2010 prices have risen faster than wages. As a result, real wages have fallen by £1,600 since the last election. This amounts to a cost of living crisis for people in Wirral and across the country.

 

Whilst it is accepted that measures are required to control the national debt, it cannot be fair or equitable that the government has forced through massive cuts to local government funding in areas with the highest levels of deprivation.

 

A recent, in depth analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation entitled “Austerity” concludes that:

 

“Cuts in spending power and budgeted spend are systematically greater in more deprived local authorities than in more affluent ones, …. cuts are also generally greater in the North and Midlands than in the south of England, and in the west rather than the east of Scotland.

 

Reductions in spending tell only part of the story as authorities also have to cope with rising  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

77.

Council Tax 2014/2015

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to the report of the Director of Resources, which sought approval for the statutory calculations in respect of setting the Council Tax, to set the total amount of Council Tax for the financial year 2014/2015 for the different categories of dwellings, and to determine that the Council’s Basic Amount of Council Tax for the financial year 2014/2015 was not excessive such that Referendum was not necessary.

 

The Mayor indicated that a card vote would be taken in accordance with the amended Budget Council Procedure.

 

In respect of a motion by Councillor Phil Davies and seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan, the Council divided as follows –

 

For the motion (37) Councillors R Abbey, P Brightmore, J Crabtree, G Davies, P Davies, W Davies, P Doughty, S Foulkes, P Glasman, R Gregson, P Hackett, M Johnston, AER Jones, C Jones, B Kenny, A Leech, A McLachlan, M McLaughlin, Mrs C Meaden, B Mooney, C Muspratt, S Niblock, T Norbury, M Patrick, D Realey, D Roberts, J Salter, H Smith, PA Smith, W Smith, J Stapleton, M Sullivan, J Walsh, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams, J Williamson

 

Against the motion (26) Councillors C Blakeley, E Boult, A Brighouse, W Clements, T Cox, D Elderton, G Ellis, L Fraser, P Gilchrist, J Green, J Hale, T Harney, A Hodson, K Hodson, M Hornby, P Kearney, S Kelly, I Lewis, S Mountney, C Povall, Mrs L Rennie, SL Rowlands, A Sykes, GCJ Watt, Mrs P Williams, S Williams

 

One abstention – Councillor D Mitchell

 

The motion was therefore carried (37:26) (One abstention)

 

Resolved (37:26) (One abstention) –

 

(1)  That it be noted that in accordance with Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended), that Cabinet on 10 December 2013 (minute 117) calculated the Council Tax Base 2014/2015 for the whole of the properties in its area as 87,786.2 (Item T in the statutory formula)

 

(2)  That the following amounts be calculated and approved by the Council for the year 2014/2015 in accordance with Sections 32-36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) (“the Act”);

 

(a)  £112,213,601 being the amount calculated in accordance with Section 31A (4) of the Act (amended) as the Council Tax Requirement for 2014/2015 (item R in the statutory formula). This amount (d) is determined as being the difference between:

 

(i)  £769,097,665 this being the aggregate of the amounts calculated in accordance with Section 31A (2) of the Act (as amended), i.e. the aggregate of the amounts that the Council estimates that will be charged to a revenue account for the year in performing its functions, that are required to be set aside for contingencies and reserves and required to be transferred from its General Fund to its Collection Fund in the year and

 

(ii)  £656,884,064 this being the amount calculated in accordance with Section 31A (3) of the Act (as amended), i.e. the aggregate of the amounts of income that the Council estimates will be credited to a revenue account  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

78.

Policy and Performance Coordinating Committee - Membership

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to a recommendation made by the Policy and Performance Coordinating Committee at its meeting held on 5 February 2014, which requested the Council to approve an increase in the membership of that Committee and the co-option of two parent governor representatives and two diocesan representatives to sit on the Committee, when it dealt with education matters and to have voting rights in respect of education matters only.

 

On a motion by Councillor Phil Davies and seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan, it was –

 

Resolved (63:0) (One abstention) –

 

(1)  That the Membership of the Policy and Performance Co-ordinating Committee be extended to include:

 

(a)  Two Parent Governor Representatives; and

(b)  A representative of each of the appropriate Diocesan Authorities

 

With voting rights, for the purpose of dealing with educational matters

 

(2)  That in order to meet legal requirements when considering educational matters the following be co-opted onto the Policy and Performance Co-ordinating Committee:

 

(a)  the following two Parent Governor Representatives, elected to sit on the Council’s scrutiny committees that deal with education (with voting rights, in respect of educational matters only)

 

·  Mrs H Shoebridge (until 28 October 2015); and

·  Mrs Nicola Smith (until 8 February 2017)

 

and,

 

(b)  the following two Diocesan Authority representatives (with voting right in respect of educational matters only)

 

·  Damien Cunningham (representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury); and

·  A representative of the Church of England Diocese of Chester (currently a nomination has not yet been made).

79.

VACANCIES

To receive nominations, in accordance with Standing Order 25(6), in respect of any proposed changes in the membership of committees, and to approve nominations for appointments to outside organisations.

Minutes:

The Mayor informed the Council that the Head of Legal and Member Services had not been notified of any changes to committee memberships or outside bodies.