The Mayor thanked all those within the Council and throughout the Borough who had supported him in the wide variety of activities that he had undertaken throughout his year of office and in the work of the Mayor's Charity Fund, in particular the staff of Civic and Member Services for their valued assistance and the former Mayor, Councillor Adrian Jones, and the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Jennings, for their encouragement and support. All of the Mayor's remarks were warmly endorsed by the whole Council.

At the Mayor's request, the following young people were invited to entertain the Council:

Jess Yung, Wirral's Young Poet Laureate, read a poem specially composed for the occasion entitled ”What Wirral Means to Me”

Stephanie Keilaus sang “Allejuah”

Alex Stead played the violin

To elect the Mayor for the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral for the municipal year 2010/11.

The Mayor invited nominations for election of the Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

On a motion moved by Councillor Gardiner and seconded by Councillor Foulkes, and in the absence of any other nominations, it was –

Resolved - That Councillor Alan Thomas Jennings be elected Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral for the 2010/11 municipal year.

Councillor Jennings made the declaration required by law, and the retiring Mayor (Councillor Hodson) vacated the chair. Councillor Jennings occupied the chair.

To appoint the Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor invited nominations for the appointment of a Deputy Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

On a motion moved by Councillor Foulkes and seconded by Councillor Green, and in the absence of any other nominations, it was –

Resolved (unanimously) – That Councillor Moira McLaughlin be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral for the 2009/10 municipal year.

Councillor McLaughlin made the declaration required by law.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting(s) of the Council held on 19 April, 2010.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 April 2010, having been circulated to all members, it was –

Resolved – That, subject to Councillor Sue Taylor being shown as being in attendance, the minutes be approved and adopted.

To agree that, pursuant to the Annual Council procedure (Standing Order 5A), the meeting stand adjourned to 6.15pm on Monday 24 May 2010.

The Council agreed, without a vote, pursuant to paragraph 44 of the Annual Council procedure, that the meeting stand adjourned to 6.15pm on Monday, 24 May 2010.

It was with deep regret that the Mayor referred to the recent death of Hon Alderman Ken Fox, Mayor of Wirral (1975-76) and Labour Councillor, County Borough of Wallasey (1967-73) and Wirral Borough Council Leasowe Ward (1974-91). The Council stood in silent tribute to his memory.

The Mayor also welcomed those newly elected Councillors and congratulated those Members who had retained their seats at the recent local elections.

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 this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest. No such declarations were made.

To receive petitions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 21.

In accordance with Standing Order 21, the Mayor received a petition containing 25 signatories, presented by Councillor C Povall, which objected to planning application LBC/10/00446 (erection of three marquees within the Thornton Manor Estate)

Resolved – That the petition be noted and referred to the appropriate chief officer in accordance with Standing Order 34

To consider the recommendations of the Appointments Working Party (including the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of all the political groups) on the conduct of the Council (Part 2) meeting, and to determine the following matters:-

(i)  Election of the Leader of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 5B of the Constitution.

(ii)  Leader’s Acceptance Speech (5 minutes).

(iii)  Appointments to Council Committees and the appointment of Chairs and Vice –chairs to such committees.

(iv)  Appointment of Members (and/or other individuals) to outside bodies and organisations.

In accordance with Standing Order 5B of the Constitution, the Mayor invited Councillor Mrs Lesley Rennie (on behalf of the Conservative Group, as the political group with most Councillors) to propose a Councillor to be elected as Leader of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Rennie and seconded by Councillor Mrs K Wood –

“That Councillor Jeff Green be elected as Leader of Wirral Council”

Councillor Green confirmed that he was willing to accept the nomination and indicated to the Council that, if he was elected as Leader, he was minded to appoint a Cabinet with the political composition of seven Conservative Members and three Liberal Democrat Members.

The motion was then put to the vote and carried with the Council dividing as follows:

For the motion (39) – Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, E Boult, A Bridson, A Brighouse, SL Clarke, W Clements, D Elderton, GJ Ellis, G Gardiner, PN Gilchrist, JE Green, T Harney, K Hayes, P Hayes, S Holbrook, PSC Johnson, M Johnston, P Kearney, J Keeley, S Kelly, D Knowles, I Lewis, D McCubbin, D Mitchell, RK Moon, SR Mountney, S Niblock, C Povall, A Pritchard, P Reisdorf, Mrs LA Rennie, SL Rowlands, S Taylor, GCJ Watt, R Wilkins, Mrs PM Williams, S Williams and Mrs K Wood.

Against the motion (20) - Councillors RL Abbey, JA Crabtree, G Davies, PL Davies, WJ Davies, S Foulkes, P Glasman, AER Jones, A McLachlan, M McLaughlin, CM Meaden, DE Roberts, J Salter, H Smith, PA Smith, WW Smith,  JV Stapleton, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams.

Abstentions (1) Councillor AT Jennings.

Resolved – That Councillor JE Green be elected as Leader of Wirral Council.

Councillor Green, having been elected Leader of the Council then gave an acceptance speech and thanked the outgoing leader, Councillor S Foulkes, for his services to the Borough over the last 10 years. He then confirmed the following appointments to the Cabinet –