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.

The Civic Mayor informed the meeting that he had been informed in advance of a number of Members who had a personal interest in agenda item 4c, ‘Budget 2022/23 and Medium-Term Financial Plan’ insofar as it related to the schools budget element by virtue of holding positions as school governors, as follows:

Councillors Bruce Berry, Allan Brame, Chris Carubia, Wendy Clements, Helen Collinson, George Davies, Steve Foulkes, Phil Gilchrist, Dave Mitchell, Yvonne Nolan, Tony Smith, Paul Stuart, Stuart Whittingham, Steve Williams and Gillian Wood.

Additionally, the Civic Mayor reported the following personal interests insofar as they related to the schools budget element, by virtue of those Members either themselves or close family members working in either Schools or the Council’s Education and Children, or Young People’s Directorate:

Councillors Liz Grey, Adrian Jones, Chris Jones, Cherry Povall, Jean Robinson and Les Rowlands.

Members were then invited to make any further declarations, Councillors Pat Cleary and Chris Cooke both declared personal interests as School Governors. Councillors Julie McManus, Helen Collinson and Moira McLaughlin declared personal interests by virtue of a family member’s employment and Councillor Jo Bird a personal interest by virtue of her partner being a school governor, all insofar as they related to the schools budget element.

Councillor Jeff Green declared a personal interest in agenda item 4c, ‘Budget 2022/23 and Medium-Term Financial Plan’ by virtue of him being a member of Wirral Golf Club.

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

The Civic Mayor asked for any apologies and these were then given for Councillors Chris Carubia and Chris Spriggs.

The Civic Mayor then invited the Council to stand for a minute’s silence in memory of former Leader of the Council, Alderman John Hale and also to reflect on the terrible events occurring in Ukraine with the Council’s thoughts and prayers being with the Ukrainian people at this time. Ukrainian flags were flying at both Wallasey and Birkenhead Town Halls and Wallasey Town Hall had been illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, providing a small symbol of Wirral’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

The Council is requested to consider the recommendation from Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February, 2022, in respect of the procedure to be adopted for this extraordinary meeting of Council, as specified in appendix A to the report of the Director Law and Governance.

Minute and report attached.

The Council was then invited to consider the recommendation from the Policy and Resources Committee meeting of 15 February 2022, in respect of the procedure to be adopted for this extraordinary meeting of the Council.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Tom Anderson, it was –

Resolved – That, for the duration of the extraordinary meeting of 28 February 2022 (Budget Council):

(a)  the procedure attached as Appendix A to the report be followed in respect of the meeting; and

(b)  Council Standing Order 15.4 (timing of speeches) be suspended together with such other standing orders as may conflict with the Budget Council procedure or the Mayor’s administration of the meeting, in such a manner as the Mayor in his or her absolute discretion dictates, to ensure the objective of Council setting a lawful budget and council tax requirement prevails.

Eight matters had been referred by the meetings of Policy and Resources Committee on 17 January and 15 February, 2022 (see minutes 79 to 86 post).

Minute with recommendations and report attached.

The first item requiring approval was in relation to proposed Council Tax discounts, the motion for which was moved by Councillor Janette Williamson and seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan.

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 116 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 January, 2022, be agreed as follows:

The level and award of each local discount for 2022/23 be as follows:

Wirral Women’s & Children’s Aid

To continue to award Wirral Women & Children’s Aid 100% discount. This remains unchanged from 2021/22.

Care Leaver’s Discount

To award Care Leavers the requisite discount to reduce their Council Tax liability to zero until they are 25. This remains unchanged from 2021/22.

Empty Property Discounts

Discount category D = 0% Full charge on properties undergoing renovations.

Discount category C = 0% Full charge on empty properties from date they become unoccupied.

Both remain unchanged from 2021/22, Except for properties requiring adaptations to meet the need of a disabled person as described in Section 3.23

Empty Property Premium =

100% (200% Council Tax) for unfurnished properties empty for more than two years.

200% (300% Council Tax) for unfurnished properties empty more than five years. 

300% (400% Council Tax) for unfurnished properties empty more than ten years.

All remain unchanged from 2021/22, except for properties requiring adaptations to meet the need of a disabled person as described in Section 3.23

Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Relief Scheme

The Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Relief Scheme, approved by Cabinet in October 2013, continues in its current format for 2022/23. The Scheme offers help and assistance in exceptional cases of hardship.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS)

The current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme remains to be the most appropriate scheme for Wirral Council and therefore will remain unchanged from 2021/22 apart from the following:

The scheme will be aligned to all the DWP’s upratings and changes for Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.

Minute with recommendations and report attached.

The second item requiring approval was in relation to a revised capital programme for 2021/22.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan it was -

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 128 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February, 2022, be agreed as follows:

(1)  the approval of the revised Capital Programme of £71.9 million for 2021/22, including the addition of the new grant funding referred to in section 3.4 in the report;

(2)  the approval of additional funding for the schemes referred to in section 3.5 in the report;

(3)  the approval of the virements referred to in Appendix 3 in the report.

Minute with recommendations and report attached.

1.  Budget recommendation.

2.  Council Tax setting.

The third item requiring approval was the Council Budget and Council Tax setting for 2022/23. Councillor Janette Williamson formally moved the Motion, which was seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, and which was set out as a recommendation of the Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February 2022, minute 129, ‘Budget 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Plan’ but subject to an alteration, in that an addition be made with a new paragraph at (1) (i), as follows (the remaining paragraphs being re-lettered):

“An allocation of £125,000 from within the 2022/23 capital programme be identified to enable the total Climate Emergency Budget to remain at £250,000 from revenue and capital for 2022/23. This is in recognition of the increasing concern over the continuing pattern of severe weather and just recently, the worst storms we have seen in decades. We have an obligation to ensure our assets can be fit for purpose and remain in good order so that when such events occur again, we can continue to operate vital council services for residents, with no or minimal disruption’

This does not affect the existing revenue saving of £125,000 already proposed.”

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROUP AMENDMENT

The Liberal Democrat Group amendment was then formally moved by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, and seconded by Councillor Stuart Kelly, as follows:

“That the motion proposed as set out in the recommendation from the Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February, 2022, in minute 129, ‘Budget 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Plan’ be subject to the following amendments in part (1):

(e) Delete final sentence and insert....

Brackenwood Golf Course currently proposed to cease operation as at 1 April 2022 to continue to operate until 30 September 2022 whilst expressions of interest for community asset transfer are sought and assessed which will provide a reduction of in-year savings of £55k. This will not affect the saving proposal to come into effect as at 1 April 2022, following Budget Council, for Hoylake Golf Course.

(g) (i) Delete all and insert....

Whilst it has been proposed that Greasby and Rock Ferry libraries are to remain operating for the purposes of community facility and library centres at a cost of £162k, it remains necessary for the Committee to look at the overall picture and consider the circumstances pertaining to all the other library locations covered by the current consultation.

(g) (ii) Delete £282k and replace with £113k.

Insert new paragraph after "(h) ....Greenbelt where those sites are within it."

(i) That the savings proposal listed at Appendix 2 headed “Temporary Closure and Remodelling of Bidston Tennis Centre” be amended to reduce the savings proposals so as to make sufficient monies available to enable Bidston Tennis Centre to continue to operate until 31 March 2023 whilst public consultation and further discussions take place with the Lawn Tennis Association; which will provide a reduction of in-year savings of £114k.”

GREEN GROUP AMENDMENTS

The Green Group amendments were then formally moved by Councillor Pat Cleary and seconded by Councillor Jason Walsh, as follows:

First Amendment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

Minute with recommendations and report attached.

The fourth item requiring approval was in relation to the capital programme for 2022-27.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, it was –

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 130 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February, 2022, be agreed in that the following be approved:

(1)  new bids as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report requiring £8.963 million borrowing for inclusion in the Capital Programme;

(2)  any new bids supported by grant funding do not commence until written confirmation has been received from the granting authority;

(3)  the Capital Programme 2022/27 (as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report);

(4)  that the Director of Resources be requested to present updates on the capital programme in accordance with the agreed capital monitoring arrangements.

The fifth item requiring approval was in relation to the Capital Financing Strategy 2022/23.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, it was –

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 131 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February, 2022, be agreed in that the following be approved:

(1)  the Capital Strategy for 2022/23;

(2)  the associated Prudential Indicators to be adopted;

(3)  the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision policy.

The sixth item requiring approval was in relation to the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, it was –

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 132 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February, 2022, be agreed in that the following be approved:

(1)  the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy for 2022/2023;

(2)  the Treasury Management Indicators.

The seventh item requiring approval was in relation to the Investment Strategy  2022/23.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, it was –

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 133 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 15 February, 2022, be agreed in that the following be approved:

the Investment Strategy for 2022/2023 which includes potential investment in the following activity areas:

1.  Commercial Property

2.  Service Investments: Loans

3.  Service Investment: Shares (non-currently held)

4.  Loan Commitments and Financial Guarantees

Minute with recommendation and report attached.

The eighth item requiring approval was in relation to the external auditor appointment 2023/24 to 2027/28.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, it was –

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 118 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 January, 2022, be agreed as follows:

That Council enter into the option to enter into the procurement exercise led by the Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors for a period of five financial years from 1st April 2023.