Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members are reminded that they should also declare 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 any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any items on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members were reminded that they should also declare whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any items to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

No such declarations were made.

The Chair introduced the item of business ‘Reintroduction of Car Parking Charges’ considered by the Cabinet Members as a delegated decision made on 9 July 2020, the decision relating thereto having been called-in in accordance with Council Procedure Rule / Standing Order 35. 

The Chair detailed the procedure for the consideration of called-in business that had been circulated with the agenda.  The Committee further received -

• the details of the call-in and reasons submitted;
• The decision notice for the delegated decision; and
• the report and appendices considered by the Cabinet Member. These had been erroneously considered confidential at the time of publication and had subsequently been published as a supplement.

The delegated decision made on 9 July 2020 had been called in by Councillors Jenny Johnson (lead signatory), Tom Anderson, Bruce Berry, Wendy Clements, Mike Collins, Tony Cox, Andrew Gardner, Jeff Green, Paul Hayes, Andrew Hodson, Kathy Hodson, Mary Jordan, Ian Lewis, Cherry Povall, Lesley Rennie, Les Rowlands, Steve Williams, Alison Wright, on the following grounds:-

“While Wirral shops and small businesses in our retain areas have shared in the £63 million given to Wirral Council to support them, the economic recovery of the high street is not yet assured.

The medium-term impact of consumer demand shifting to online shopping has yet to be assessed or understood.

Many consumers remain understandably wary of a return to traditional means of shopping and reintroduction of charges will act as a further discouragement.

The justification for the decision is, itself, based on very rough estimates of potential income and loss of income to the Council.

The wider budget of the Council has yet to be reviewed or amended following the outbreak and so piecemeal budgetary decisions should be avoided.

This issue should be deferred until the new Committee system is in place from September, enabling the decision to be reached in public.”

Councillor Jennifer Johnson, as lead signatory, added that:

·  there were reports that retail was changing with a rise in online sales

·  the high street needed to offer unique customer experiences and shared spaces

·  there had been local closures of shops and banks but there was innovation and improvements in confidence.

·  Reinstating the car parking charge just as recovery was underway would disregard businesses competing with online and out of town shopping.

·  We needed: evidence-based decision making with clear research; to prioritise safety; to encourage people back into local shops; to incentivise people to return with the Council playing their part.

·  parking charges hit vulnerable people.

Councillor Janette Williamson, representing the decision taker Councillor Julia McManus, stated that the debate was needed because of factors including:

·  Free parking in country parks encouraged exercise

·  Restarting charges will be informed by the Council agenda to avoid use of cars, ship local, use public transport

·  The Council would want to push forward the environmental agenda

·  People were reluctant to public transport for various reasons – a second wave of the virus, wearing masks

·  The wording of central Government support was specific in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.