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 Niblock, Lesley Rennie, Denise Roberts and Jean Stapleton declared a personal interest in all agenda items by virtue of their membership of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham, Lesley Rennie, Steve Williams, P Brightmore and C Muspratt declared a personal interest in all agenda items by virtue of their appointments as Governors of Special Schools.

The Mayor announced the following two events which were taking place in aid of the Mayor’s Charity.

·  Charity Bag Pack in Morrison’s Store in New Brighton 14 March 2015 11am till 3pm  

·  Spotlight on Youth, 22 March 2015, Floral Pavilion. Members wishing to attend were urged to contact the Mayor’s Office for details.  

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

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

Councillor Wendy Clements on behalf of 43 signatories regarding the state of the alleyway behind the shops on Greasby Road.

Councillor Gerry Ellis on behalf of 158 signatories, requesting the extension of parking time on Acacia Grove

Councillor Gerry Ellis on behalf of 641 signatories requesting Library Services at Hoylake to be retained.

Councillor Dave Mitchell on behalf of 18 signatories regarding the parking problems on Stoke Close

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

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)

The Budget Debate will only consider:

(i).  the Cabinet’s Budget Recommendations/Minutes, which shall include any additional paragraphs / recommendations (e.g. those relating to precepts), together with any other recommendation(s) / minute(s) from the Cabinet meeting held on 10 February 2015 (and / or any other relevant Cabinet meeting) that require approval by the Council; and

(ii).  any Alternative Budget Proposal(s) or Amendment(s) to the Cabinet’s Budget Recommendations / Minutes referred to at (i) above must be duly lodged with the Head of Legal & Member Services on or before 12.00 noon on Friday, 20 February 2015.

(iii).  Budget Debate shall be conducted in accordance with the Budget Debate Process set out at Annex 1 (pages 27 – 30).

The minutes of the Cabinet (Budget Meeting) held on 10 February, 2015 are attached (pages 31 – 58) together with the following reports / documents:

A.  Revenue Budget 2015/18, Council Tax Levels 2015/16 and Council Tax for 2015/16 (Pages 59 - 106)

[Cabinet minute 136 refers]

B.  Schools Budget 2015/16 (Pages 107 - 122)

[Cabinet minute 145 refers]

C.  Capital Programme and Financing 2015/18 (Pages 123 – 147)

[Cabinet minute 137 refers]

D.  Medium Term Financial Strategy 2015/16 (Pages 149 - 228)

[Cabinet minute 138 refers]

E.  Carbon Budget (Pages 229 - 240)

[Cabinet minute 147 refers]

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 136, 145, 137 to 138 and 147 of 10 February 2014, duly seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan (Deputy Leader) –

(i)  Minute 136 (Cabinet – 10 February 2015)

Revenue Budget 2015/16, Council tax Levels 2015/16 and Council Tax for 2015/16

RESOLVED:

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

BUDGET RESOLUTION 2015/16

Cabinet notes the following:

1.  In spite of the continuing draconian cuts by the Tory-led government amounting to £151m since 2010, this Council has protected front-line services and welcomes the fact that in 2015/16 no Library, Children’s Centre or One Stop Shop will close.

2.  Cabinet welcomes the fact that, in spite of inheriting an overspend of £17m from the previous administration, Labour will deliver a balanced budget in 2015/16.

GROWTH

3.  In spite of the unprecedented cuts in the Council’s budget, Cabinet is able to recommend the following growth items in the period 2015/18 which will allow us to meet our corporate priorities (these are set out in Appendix 2 of the Acting Section 151 Officer’s report). These include the following:-

Protecting vulnerable people

£6.8m to address demographic growth in Children’s and Adults’ Services.

£400,000 to address homelessness and fund the Community Safety Team.

Narrowing the inequalities gap

£600,000 to address property conditions in the private sector and promote housing and growth.

£356,000 for Selective Licensing pilot scheme in four areas of the Borough to improve private sector housing standards.

£1.5m capital for a new house building programme which continues into 2015/16.

£1.9m to continue support to schools previously funded by the Education

Services Grant cut by the government.

Economic Growth

£808,000 capital to provide assistance to businesses.

£7m investment, primarily from grant, to replace the Dock Bridges.

£4m of capital to install LED lighting throughout the Borough.

£2m of capital investment into Highways (over and above Government funding).

Improving staff pay

£2.5m growth has been identified for 2015/16 to fully fund the national pay award for staff.  This runs from January 2015 to March 2016.

£400,000 growth is included in the budget for 2015/16 rising to £800,000 by 2017/18 to increase the pay of social workers in recognition of the importance of safeguarding children, young people and adults.

4.  Cabinet notes that there is a resource of £1.5m available for allocating in 2015/16 and that, whilst an additional £614,000 allocated as part of Wirral’s Revenue Support grant is welcome, this pales into insignificance compared to the £24m which the government has cut from Wirral’s Revenue Support Grant in 2015/16.  This administration has a long-standing commitment to protecting front-line services and helping vulnerable people. Cabinet therefore proposes to allocate this funding as follows:-

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour - £365,200

Cabinet is determined to address the issue of anti-socialbehaviour which residents tell us is a key issue in many parts of the Borough. This  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112.

To consider any recommendations of the Leader, Cabinet, Cabinet Member and Committees which require the approval of the Council. The relevant minutes are attached; copies of the related reports can be provided for Council members on request.

A.  Employment and Appointments Panel – 6 February, 2015 (Page 241)

Minute 15 - Appointment of Chief Executive, Head of Paid Service (and Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer)

B.  Cabinet – 15 January, 2015 (Page 243)

Minute 125 - Capital Monitoring 2014/15 Month 8

C.  Cabinet – 10 February, 2015 (Page 245)

Minute 149 - Proposed Changes to the Fees Charged for Adaptation Delivered Funded by Disabled Facility Grant

In accordance with Standing Order 5(2), three matters were submitted for approval by the Council (see minutes 114 to 116 post).

The first matter requiring approval was in relation to the Appointment of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service (including Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer and the recommendations of Employments and Appointments at its meeting 6 February 2014 (minute 15 refers).

Prior to the vote on the item, Councillor P Davies along with five Labour Members asked that a ‘card vote’ be recorded.

In respect of item A. Employment and Appointments Panel – 6 February, 2015 Minute 15 – Appointment of the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service (including Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer), the Council divided as follows –

For the motion (57) Councillors R Abbey, T Anderson, E Boult , A Brighouse  P Brightmore, C Carubia, W Clements, J Crabtree, M Daniel, G Davies,  P Davies, W Davies, P Doughty, D Elderton, G Ellis , P Gilchrist, J Green,  R Gregson, P Hackett, J Hale, A Hodson, K Hodson, M Hornby, T Johnson,  AER Jones, C Jones, S Kelly, A Leech, A McLachlan, M McLaughlin, Mrs C Meaden, D Mitchell, B Mooney, C Muspratt, S Niblock, T Norbury, M Patrick, C Povall ,D Realey, L Reecejones, Mrs L Rennie, D Roberts, SL Rowlands,  J Salter, H Smith, PA Smith, W Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, M Sullivan, A Sykes, J Walsh, GCJ Watt, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams,  J Williamson.

Against the Motion (4) Councillors P Cleary, L Fraser, P Hayes, S Williams.

One abstention – Councillor S Foulkes.

The motion was therefore carried (57:4) (One abstention).

Councillor P Davies indicated that he was delighted with the panel’s unanimous decision to recommend Mr Eric Robinson’s appointment to the Council for approval. Mr Davies indicated that Mr Robinson was an excellent appointment and came with an excellent work record.

Councillor J Hale commented that although he supported the appointment of the new Chief Executive he did not necessarily support the pay and conditions awarded to the post.

Councillor J Green indicated that he was pleased to second the recommendation and that he was impressed with how Mr Robinson presented and responded throughout the whole recruitment process.

Councillor P Davies requested that Standing Order 9 be suspended to allow further debate of the Motion.

Councillor P Gilchrist indicated that he was impressed by all of the candidates and that Mr Robinson was well respected and well regarded and stood out above the other candidates considered.

RESOLVED – (57:4) (One abstention) – That Minute 15 (Employment and Appointments Panel – 6/2/15) – The Appointment of the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service (including Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer), be approved.

The second matter requiring approval was in relation to the Capital Monitoring 2014/15- Month 8 and the recommendations of Cabinet at its meeting 15 January 2015 (minute 125 refers).

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

RESOLVED (61:1) (One abstention) -

That the recommendations contained within Cabinet minute 125, be approved.

The third matter requiring approval was in relation to the Proposed Changes to the fees charged for Adaptation Delivered Funded by Disabled Facilities Grant and the recommendations of Cabinet at its meeting 10 February 2015 (minute 149 refers).

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

Resolved (61:1) (One abstention) – That the recommendations contained within Cabinet minute 149, be approved.

The Council was requested to deal with the following matters in respect of appointments to Committees and outside organisations.

Outside Bodies

Leasowe Community Homes

Councillors A.Jones, C.Spriggs and B Mooney to replace Councillors R Abbey, J Salter and A Leech.

Resolved – That the appointments and amendments to the membership of the Committee and outside body listed above, be approved.