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 the interest.

No such declarations were made.

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

The Civic Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting. He referred to a gift of Fairtrade olive oil received from farmers in Palestine and on behalf of the Council he sent Wirral’s best wishes to all Wirral’s friends in the Holy Land for their work for a long lasting sustainable just peace for everyone.

The Civic Mayor announced that apologies had been received from Councillors Kate Cannon, Andy Corkhill and Moira McLaughlin.

The Civic Mayor then referred to the Council Standing Orders and in particular SO 21.1 which required a Member to stand and address the meeting through the Mayor when they spoke at a Full Council Meeting. He announced that given that the Council was not currently meeting in the Council Chamber he would be happy for individual Members to decide if they wished to stand or remain seated when speaking.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 March, 2021.

The minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 22 March, 2021 had been circulated to Members. On a motion by the Civic Mayor, seconded by Councillor Jeff Green, it was –

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting be approved and adopted as a correct record.

To receive and note the report of the Returning Officer on the results of the Local Government Election held on 6 May, 2021.

The Chief Executive / Returning Officer presented a summary of the results of the Local Government Elections held on 6 May, 2021.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

To consider the following reports of the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) which require the approval or consideration of the Council.

In accordance with Standing Order 1.3 three matters had been submitted for approval by the Council (see minutes 10 to 12 post).

To determine such committees as the Council considers appropriate for the municipal year and, determine the number of members to form the committees and the allocation of seats.

The first item requiring approval was in relation to the appointment of committees.

On a motion by the Civic Mayor, seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson, it was –

Resolved – That,

(1)  the formation of those Committees set out in Part 3(B) of the Constitution, be agreed,

(a)  noting that Council determined on 28^th September 2020 and 19^th October 2020 respectively that the following meetings are exempt from political balance requirements:

(i)  Constitution and Standards Committee (Council minute 8 (20/21) refers);

(ii)  Senior Officer Appointments and Staffing Sub-Committee and associated sub-committees of the Policy and Resources Committee (Council minute 8 (20/21) refers); and

(iii)  Local Plan Sub-Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee (Council minute 21 (20/21) refers); and

(b)  seats on the Committees be allocated as set out in Appendix 1;

(2)  the Monitoring Officer as proper officer, be authorised to carry out the wishes of the Leaders of Political Groups in allocating Members to membership and substitute membership of the committees or other authorities, and to appoint those Members with effect from the date at which the proper officer is advised of the names of such Members;

(3)  the appointment of sub-committees, panels and statutory/advisory committees, be delegated to the appropriate parent Committee of Council;

(4)  authority be delegated to the Director of Law and Governance, to appoint Members to the Regulatory Panel of the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee and appoint Members to the Licensing Panel of the Licensing Committee, in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons of these Committees, to enable meetings of either, or both, of these panels, if required, prior to their appointment at the first meetings of each of these committees.

To appoint:

(i)  the Leader of the Council (Chair of Policy & Resources Committee);

(ii)  the Deputy Leader of the Council (Vice-Chair of Policy & Resources Committee); and

(iii)  the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of all other Council committees, at A. above, other than those which the Council has decided should be appointed by the committee itself.

The second matter requiring approval was in relation to the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees.

On a motion by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart, it was -

A.  Resolved –

(1)  That Councillor Janette Williamson be appointed Leader of the Council (Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee).

Having been invited by the Civic Mayor to make her acceptance speech,  Councillor Janette Williamson then spoke to her election as Leader.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart, it was -

B.  Resolved -

(2)  That Councillor Yvonne Nolan be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council (Vice-Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee).

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Tom Anderson, it was –

C.  Resolved -

(3)  That Chairs and Vice-Chairs be appointed to Committees as referred to in the list circulated in the supplementary agenda, and that the appointments be as set out below.

Appoint Members to miscellaneous other bodies and appoint Members (and/or other individuals) to outside bodies and organisations, unless otherwise delegated.

The third matter requiring approval was in relation to the appointment of Members (and/or other individuals) to outside bodies and organisations.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Tom Anderson, it was –

Resolved – That Members, officers or others (as appropriate) be appointed or nominated, as the case may be, to represent the Council on various outside bodies and organisations, as listed in the agenda supplement.