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.

Members of the Council were invited to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any matters to be determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

Councillor Ian Lewis questioned whether if Members’ had been in receipt of hospitality, would that be classed as a declarable interest. The Director of Governance and Assurance informed that if Members’ had received direct expenses e.g. in the form of sponsorship that would need to be declared, however hospitality in the course of ordinary business would not.

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

The Civic Mayor noted that apologies had been received from Councillors Ron Abbey, Pat Hackett, Gill Wood and the Civic Mayor’s Chaplain, Rev David Chester.

The Civic Mayor informed that as per the last meeting of Council the current Standing Order 18 referred to the ‘…normal method of voting at meetings of the Council shall be by show of hands…’ and that the Council therefore needed to determine if they wished to use the electronic voting system.

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

Resolved (unanimously) – That the electronic voting system be used for all votes at this meeting.

The Civic Mayor then invited Councillor Chris Meaden to make a short personal statement.

Councillor Chris Meaden addressed the Council stating that after 28 years serving as a Labour Councillor, it was with great sadness that she had resigned the Labour Whip. She thanked her family for their support during this difficult period and also thanked Members across the Chamber for their kind words of support. She added that she would be putting herself forward for re-election in Rock Ferry Ward in May 2019, a Ward she had represented since becoming a Councillor.

The Civic Mayor introduced the item on the Celtic Manor Resort for which three motions had been submitted. He suggested that the Council debate all three motions as one and on a motion by Councillor Phil Davies, seconded by Councillor George Davies, it was –

Resolved – That in accordance with Standing Order 12(2) all three motions be debated in one debate with separate votes on each.

Councillor Chris Blakeley moved and Councillor Gerry Ellis seconded the following Motion –

“Council notes that in excess of £1 million of Council taxpayers’ money has, so far, been utilised to support this project, as well as Council Officers’ and consultants’ time, while Cabinet itself has stated that golf in Wirral is in decline.

Council also notes that the Celtic Manor Resort, formerly known as the Hoylake Golf Resort, is dependent on 160 higher-band houses and 40 apartments being built on a location within Wirral’s precious Green Belt with further Council support suggested at up to £26 million.

Council recognises the widespread concern at this proposal, including the opposition voiced recently by Local Campaign Forum of the Labour Party.

Council is advised by the Director of Governance and Assurance that, under the Leader and Cabinet system (as operated by Labour in Wirral), it does not have the power to demand or force the Cabinet to drop this unwanted scheme in its entirety.

However, given the uncertainty, the massive public opposition, the financial risks to the taxpayer and the harm that would be caused to Wirral’s Green Belt, Council strongly recommends that Cabinet listen to the people of Wirral and withdraws from this scheme in its entirety and notify all stakeholders of its intention not to proceed.”

Councillor Phil Gilchrist moved and Councillor Alan Brame seconded the following motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 –

“Council remains concerned that this speculative development is still being put forward based on assumptions that no longer appear relevant at a time of economic uncertainty, growing concern about development in the Green Belt and greater recognition of the importance of ensuring future food supply in a period of climate change.

 In this context, the National Planning Policy Framework states…

‘Green Belt boundaries should only be altered where exceptional circumstances are fully evidenced and justified (para 136)', albeit offering potential exceptions (para 145b) on a case by case basis.

Without prejudging these issues, Council recognises that the planning considerations covering the special circumstances of this case would take considerable time and effort to justify and resolve. Council observes that the Hulton Park project in Bolton was called in by the Secretary of State after a lengthy period of preparation.

Council believes that it is no longer reasonable to put stretched managerial and officer capacity into this Golf Resort project. Wirral’s key priority should be to bring together a Local Plan that protects agricultural land, makes a strong case against intrusions into the Green Belt and creates the conditions for urban regeneration and re-use of brownfield  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

The Civic Mayor informed that notice had been given under Regulation 8 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 that three Councillors wished to be treated as a political group – Councillors Moira McLaughlin, Chris Meaden and Michael Sullivan.

The Civic Mayor informed that as such Recommendation 2 as listed within the report no longer applied, and that Council was requested to:

“Agree the revised constitution and membership of committees having regard to political balance requirements:

and

Agree that the names of appointees to Committees as required from the above considerations be provided to the Director of Governance and Assurance following the meeting.”

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

Resolved (61:1) (One abstention) – That the above recommendations be approved.