Proposed by Councillor Simon Holbrook

Seconded by Councillor Gill Gardiner

(1)  Council welcomes the measures in the Localism and Decentralisation Bill, published 13th December 2010 that will:

·  Involve people more closely in the workings of their communities

·  Diversify the way services are provided

·  Reduce the interference of central government in local and community matters

(2)  Council particularly welcomes the amendment of Pt 2 of the Local Government Act 2000, giving the flexibility for local authorities to propose their own preferred governance structures.

(3)  Council notes that the partnership agreement between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups commits the current administration to consideration of how a committee system might be re-introduced and to enhancing the role of all elected members of the Council and seeking mechanisms that will allow the delegation of significant amounts of executive authority to members.

(4)  Council also notes the commitment of the current Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration to embedding processes which engage the public in the Council’s decision making.

(5)  Council further notes the establishment and work of the Council’s Localism Commission under the leadership of Councillor Kelly, preparing the way for a substantial devolution of functions and budgets to local neighbourhoods.

(6)  Council believes that steps should be taken now to prepare for a move towards a modernised committee structure, creating a more democratic council with the opportunity for all Councillors to be involved in making real decisions on matters that affect their residents, and being held accountable for them.

(7)  Therefore, in anticipation of the Localism Bill being given Royal Assent, Council instructs the Director of Law HR and Asset Management to immediately begin holding and facilitating discussions between the three party leaders to develop a new governance model for Wirral, within existing resources, to be ready to come into operation at the earliest opportunity within the 2011/12 municipal year once the relevant legislation is in place.

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

Proposed by Councillor Steve Foulkes

Seconded by Councillor Phil Davies

Delete all after ‘Council welcomes’ and insert:

(1)  The choice being given to local councils to establish a form of governance which best suits them.

(2)  However, Council is aware that this is a matter which fundamentally affects the democracy and effective running of the organisation and which therefore deserves serious consideration before any decisions are taken.

(3)  Council has noted with dismay that in the past year the Cabinet and Scrutiny system has been seriously weakened by the blatant disregard of the leadership for the strategic role of Cabinet, taking decisions without prior referral or reports to Cabinet, and by the repeated avoidance of any real opportunity for Scrutiny, particularly on budget issues where the opportunity for Scrutiny is required by the Constitution. 

(4)  Council is concerned that any hasty changes to the current form of governance could in fact lead to a form of elective dictatorship where the real decisions are taken by the leadership and a small cabal of members without any wider strategic debate and without any opportunity for scrutiny of those decisions.

(5)  Council recognises that there are flaws in the current system which need addressing, including the ability for all councillors to participate more fully in decision making, but that there are also new statutory requirements for Scrutiny of some outside bodies which need to be met.

(6)  Council therefore recommends that the whole matter be investigated thoroughly, with the opportunity for all members to participate in a debate which fundamentally affects their role as councillors, and that no changes are made to the governance system until after Annual Council in May 2012.

(7)  Council also recommends that any changes are subject to a pilot period followed by a review of that pilot.

The amendment was put and lost (22:41)

The motion was put and carried (41:22)

Resolved (41:22) –

(1)  Council welcomes the measures in the Localism and Decentralisation Bill, published 13th December 2010 that will:

·  Involve people more closely in the workings of their communities

·  Diversify the way services are provided

·  Reduce the interference of central government in local and community matters

(2)  Council particularly welcomes the amendment of Pt 2 of the Local Government Act 2000, giving the flexibility for local authorities to propose their own preferred governance structures.

(3)  Council notes that the partnership agreement between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups commits the current administration to consideration of how a committee system might be re-introduced and to enhancing the role of all elected members of the Council and seeking mechanisms that will allow the delegation of significant amounts of executive authority to members.

(4)  Council also notes the commitment of the current Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration to embedding processes which engage the public in the Council’s decision making.

(5)  Council further notes the establishment and work of the Council’s Localism Commission under the leadership of Councillor Kelly, preparing the way for a substantial devolution of functions and budgets to local neighbourhoods.

(6)  Council believes that steps should be taken now to prepare for a move towards a modernised committee structure, creating a more democratic council with the opportunity for all Councillors to be involved in making real decisions on matters that affect their residents, and being held accountable for them.

(7)  Therefore, in anticipation of the Localism Bill being given Royal Assent, Council instructs the Director of Law HR and Asset Management to immediately begin holding and facilitating discussions between the three party leaders to develop a new governance model for Wirral, within existing resources, to be ready to come into operation at the earliest opportunity within the 2011/12 municipal year once the relevant legislation is in place.