Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members are reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they are subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

Members were asked to consider whether they had personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.

Members were reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any item to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

Councillor J Williams declared a personal interest in agenda item 2 (Sustainable Communities Budget Issues 2012/2013 (see minute 30 post) by virtue of his employment with WIRED.

Councillor S Whittingham also declared a personal interest in agenda item 2 (Sustainable Communities Budget Issues 2012/2013 (see minute 30 post), insofar as it related to the Wirral Tramway.

The Directors of Technical Services, Law, HR and Asset Management and Finance set out the key budgetary issues and challenges under the remit of the Committee and reported that, as part of the 2012/2013 Budget Consultation process, the Cabinet had asked that Overview and Scrutiny Committees consider the functions within their portfolio and offer suggestions as to how to close the estimated £25m budget gap and limit any Council Tax increase in 2012/2013. The responses would be considered along with those from the other engagement processes to inform the budget setting process and further consultation would be undertaken regarding any specific service changes.

Members expressed a view that it would be more appropriate for the Cabinet to identify savings and for those savings to then be subject to scrutiny. However, Members also suggested that the Committee should respond to the Cabinet in a constructive manner.

It was moved by Councillor R Wilkins and seconded by Councillor D McCubbin –

“(1) That having regard to the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (as set out in the Council’s Constitution), this Overview and Scrutiny Committee is of the view that it will respond to the Cabinet’s proposals at the earliest opportunity.

(2) That this Committee considers that it is the prime responsibility of Cabinet Members to come forward with proposals for investigation, research or detailed study, in sufficient depth, and in the detail required for Members to make informed decisions.

(3) That, in order for this to be thorough and constructive, this Committee requests that proposals should be provided as soon as possible and that information and advice is available to Members.

(4) That this Committee will therefore consider setting a date for a special meeting to consider Cabinet-led suggestions, highlighting potential savings, as soon as they are available.”

(At 6.10pm, the Committee stood adjourned for 5 minutes so as to allow Members to fully consider the Motion moved by Councillor Wilkins.)

Following the meeting being reconvened, the Motion was put and carried (5:0)

Resolved –

(1)  That having regard to the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (as set out in the Council’s Constitution), this Overview and Scrutiny Committee is of the view that it will respond to the Cabinet’s proposals at the earliest opportunity.

(2)  That this Committee considers that it is the prime responsibility of Cabinet Members to come forward with proposals for investigation, research or detailed study, in sufficient depth, and in the detail required for Members to make informed decisions.

(3)  That, in order for this to be thorough and constructive, this Committee requests that proposals should be provided as soon as possible and that information and advice is available to Members.

(4)  That this Committee will therefore consider setting a date for a special meeting to consider Cabinet-led suggestions, highlighting potential savings, as soon as they are available.