Proposed by Councillor Pat Glasman

Seconded by Councillor Adrian Jones

(1)  Council recognises that the people of Wirral take a keen interest in the preservation of their coastal environment. Council therefore condemns the way in which a commercial cockling operation was sprung on the people of Wirral without any prior consultation. Council notes that discussions started as early as June this year, that a Conservative Councillor is the Vice Chair of the North West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee and that Conservative Councillors were fully aware of the preparations taking place from November 5th.

(2)  Council believes this is yet another shabby example where the Conservative/Liberal Democrat administration have failed to live up to their own much stated commitment to consultation and therefore apologises to the people of Wirral for their failure to consult on an environmentally sensitive commercial enterprise as significant as this.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2):

Proposed by Councillor David Elderton

Seconded by Councillor Ian Lewis

(1)  delete all after 'any prior consultation' and replace with, Council notes that Wirral's nominated members were given insufficient notice of the decision to open the beds at Leasowe for commercial activity and notes the apology to Councillor Denis Knowles from the Sea Fisheries Committee. 

(2)  Council notes that, while the local authority has no jurisdiction or legal powers to prevent such a decision in future, believes that decisions affecting local communities should be made with greater involvement, engagement and consultation with local people and communities.

(3)  Council therefore welcomes the abolition of the Sea Fisheries Committee and the establishment of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, with effect from April 2011, and is pleased to note the greater role for local people, including a nominated Member. 

(4)  Council thanks the Council staff and contractors; the members of the Friends of the North Wirral Coastal Park and those local cocklers who collected litter for their work to rectify the damage caused by inconsiderate commercial cocklers at Leasowe.

(5)  Council welcomes the action to improve communication between the various parties involved and instructs the Interim Chief Executive to write to the Shadow Chairman and Chief Executive of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority to visit the coast at Leasowe and to meet with members, officers and community representatives.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment was put and carried (40:24) (One abstention).

The motion, as amended, was then put and carried (40:24) (One abstention).

Resolved (40:24:1) –

(1)  Council recognises that the people of Wirral take a keen interest in the preservation of their coastal environment. Council therefore condemns the way in which a commercial cockling operation was sprung on the people of Wirral without any prior consultation. Council notes that Wirral's nominated members were given insufficient notice of the decision to open the beds at Leasowe for commercial activity and notes the apology to Councillor Denis Knowles from the Sea Fisheries Committee.

(2)  Council notes that, while the local authority has no jurisdiction or legal powers to prevent such a decision in future, believes that decisions affecting local communities should be made with greater involvement, engagement and consultation with local people and communities.

(3)  Council therefore welcomes the abolition of the Sea Fisheries Committee and the establishment of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, with effect from April 2011, and is pleased to note the greater role for local people, including a nominated Member. 

(4)  Council thanks the Council staff and contractors; the members of the Friends of the North Wirral Coastal Park and those local cocklers who collected litter for their work to rectify the damage caused by inconsiderate commercial cocklers at Leasowe.

(5)  Council welcomes the action to improve communication between the various parties involved and instructs the Interim Chief Executive to write to the Shadow Chairman and Chief Executive of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority to visit the coast at Leasowe and to meet with members, officers and community representatives.