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.

Councillor Jeff Green declared a Personal Interest in Item No. 6 – Council Budget (in relation to the Schools Budget) by virtue of his Wife’s employment.

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

The Civic Mayor indicated that this was the Budget Council meeting and he understood that feelings would be running high but asked Members to be respectful and indicated that he would not tolerate personal attacks and comments and that he would interject if it was needed.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting(s) of the Council held on 19 December 2016.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 December 2016 had been circulated to Members and, it was –

RESOLVED: That the minutes be approved and adopted as a correct record.

If a petition relates to the setting of the Budget, the member who presents it will be given the opportunity during the main debate to speak to it, in order that the Council can take account of it in that context.

To receive petitions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 21.

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

(i)  Councillor J Green on behalf of 9866 signatories (online and paper copy), regarding proposed car parking charges in Wirral Country Parks.

(ii)  Councillor L Rennie on behalf of 19 residents of Broadway Avenue Wallasey, opposing Planning Application re: APP/17/00107.

(iii)  Councillor L Rennie on behalf of 4043 visitors / residents of New Brighton, Moreton, and Liscard, regarding proposed car parking charges.

(iv)  Councillor W Clements on behalf of 1653 visitors / residents, regarding proposed car parking charges in Irby.

(v)  Councillor G Ellis on behalf of 2472 visitors / residents of Hoylake, regarding proposed car parking charges in West Kirby.

(vi)  Councillor G Watt on behalf of 1264 visitors / residents, regarding proposed car parking charges in West Kirby.

(vii)  Councillor B Berry on behalf of 3735 visitors / residents of Moreton, regarding proposed car parking charges.

(viii)  Councillor T Pilgrim on behalf of 2450 visitors / residents, regarding proposed car parking charges in Wirral Country Parks.

(ix)  Councillor P Cleary on behalf of 49 residents calling upon the Council to contact owners of the Victoria Lodge Hotel, Tranmere to respond to calls to adequately secure and maintain the building.

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(n), 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).

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

RESOLVED:  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); and

(c) Standing Order 12(10).

The Budget Debate will only consider:

(i)  the Cabinet’s Budget Recommendations (Minute 91) that require approval by the Council; and

(ii)  Alternative Budget Proposal(s) or Amendment(s) to the Cabinet’s Budget Recommendations Minute 91 referred to at (i) above duly lodged with the Assistant Director: Law and Governance on or before 12noon on Wednesday 1 March 2017.

(iii)Budget Debate shall be conducted in accordance with the Budget Debate Process (Pages 31 – 35).

The minutes of the Cabinet (Budget Meeting) held on 20 February 2017, are attached and the following reports / documents are attached:

The Cabinet Budget Resolution 2017/18 (Minute 91) which was presented at the Cabinet meeting held on Monday 20 February 2017 (attached)  (Pages 39-53) and the Executive Member Decision taken on 20 February 2017 regarding ‘Car Parking Charges Budget Savings Options - Traffic Regulation Orders’ (attached) (Pages 55 - 57)

A  Revenue Budget and Council Tax Levels 2017/18

    (Pages 73 –131)

B  Capital Programme and Financing

    (Pages 133 –147)

C  Medium Term Financial Strategy

    (Pages 149 –216)

D  Schools Budget

    (Pages 217 –233)

Report on Car Parking “Charges Budget Savings Options - Traffic Regulation Orders” attached (Pages 235 - 240)

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 Minute 91 from the 20 February 2017, duly seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan (Deputy Leader).

Minute 91 (Cabinet – 20 February 2017)

Council Budget

RESOLVED:

That the following Budget Resolution be agreed and recommended to Budget

Council:

BUDGET RESOLUTION 2017/18

NATIONAL CONTEXT

This Budget is being prepared in the most difficult financial position this Council has ever found itself in. We believe Local Government, and the services residents rely on, has been under attack from the Conservative Government’s austerity agenda for almost seven years.

We believe their vision is of a country where residents are left to fend for themselves. The removal of the Revenue Support Grant is, in the opinion of this Cabinet, a shameful and dangerous dereliction of duty which hits the young, the elderly and the most vulnerable the hardest.

This alternative Tory reality is one where local services are only funded by Council Tax, business rates and fees and charges Council can generate. This is great for the wealthier boroughs, but terrible for those who – in the words of the Prime Minister – are Just About Managing.

The City of Westminster Council, for example, will do very nicely from these policies. Collecting business rates from the HQ’s of multinational companies and raising Council Tax on multi-million pound homes and apartments, they are surely counting down the days until they are able to retain all of this income for themselves – a move which adds £1.8 BILLION every year to their bank balance.

Wirral, on the other hand, with an ageing population and areas of real deprivation and need, will lose £6 million a year, money which could have funded improvements to highways and street lighting, added extra social workers, and supported efforts to clampdown on antisocial behaviour. We will continue to lobby the Government to address this imbalance through a fairer distribution of funding.

Even Conservative Council leaders warned the government about failing local services – but, predictably, they received a very different response from Whitehall. Upon learning of Surrey County Council’s plans to prop up services through a 15% Council Tax hike the Government intervened with a secret sweetheart deal for their friends in the South.

Where is Wirral’s deal? Where is Wirral’s support? Where are we to find the money to tackle anti-social behaviour, improve skills and training for our young people, and support vital services?

This Administration has lobbied Government for Wirral and the rest of our region to be treated fairly. It cannot be right that while Westminster is counting their billions, Wirral and our City Region colleagues are left to pinch the pennies. Either we are in this together, or we are not. Cabinet proposes that we continue to lobby the government to introduce a fair system of local government funding which recognises the needs of authorities such as Wirral.

It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

Council shall consider any recommendations referred for appointment, approval and/or designation (as appropriate).

The Civic mayor informed that the Assistant Director: Law and Governance had not been notified of any recommendations referred for appointment, approval and/or designation.

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.

The Civic mayor informed that the Assistant Director: Law and Governance had not been notified of any changes to committee memberships or outside bodies.

To consider any other items of business that the Civic Mayor accepts as being urgent.

The Civic Mayor informed that he had received two urgent Notices of Motion from the Labour and Conservative groups. Given the possible impact on the local economy, and residents of Wirral and to enable its consideration prior to the next scheduled meeting of Council, he had agreed to their consideration as a matter of urgent business.

The proposers of both motions having agreed that, given the mutually inclusive nature of the motions contents, a combined resolution be put to the vote.

THE FUTURE OF VAUXHALL MOTORS

Proposed by Councillor Phil Davies

Seconded by Councillor Ian Lewis

1)  Council is extremely concerned about the future of the Vauxhall Motors Car Plant in Ellesmere Port following the announcement that Peugeot/Citroen has purchased the European operations of General Motors.

2)  Vauxhall Motors employs a substantial number of local residents from Wirral and surrounding areas. Many people are also employed in supply chain companies which serve Vauxhall.

3)  Vauxhall Motors has an excellent production record and remains profitable – building the Astra, The European Car of the Year.

4)  Vauxhall Motors at Ellesmere Port was selected by GM to produce this model of the Astra through to 2021, following a Europe-wide competition which recognised the efforts of the workforce, management and local representatives to operate an efficient and flexible plant.

5)  Council is concerned that the Government’s Brexit negotiations will fail to secure customs and trade freedoms and renews its call on the Government to deliver a Brexit Deal that keeps Vauxhall building cars in Ellesmere Port.

6)  Council notes that the Leader of the Council has written to Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, seeking an urgent meeting and assurances that the government will intervene to protect the future of this company.

7)  Council agrees to work with the government, our local MPs, our partners in Cheshire West and Chester Council and any other relevant organisations to ensure that we retain these vital local jobs.

8)  Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of French carmaker, PSA Peugeot Citroen to offer the Councils full support in helping to secure the long-term future of Vauxhalls, Ellesmere Port.

RESOLVED (unanimously): That

1)  Council is extremely concerned about the future of the Vauxhall Motors Car Plant in Ellesmere Port following the announcement that Peugeot/Citroen has purchased the European operations of General Motors.

2)  Vauxhall Motors employs a substantial number of local residents from Wirral and surrounding areas. Many people are also employed in supply chain companies which serve Vauxhall.

3)  Vauxhall Motors has an excellent production record and remains profitable – building the Astra, The European Car of the Year.

4)  Vauxhall Motors at Ellesmere Port was selected by GM to produce this model of the Astra through to 2021, following a Europe-wide competition which recognised the efforts of the workforce, management and local representatives to operate an efficient and flexible plant.

5)  Council is concerned that the Government’s Brexit negotiations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 128.