Proposed by Councillor Andrew Hodson

Seconded by Councillor Steve Williams

(1)  Council regrets the proposal by Burton’s Foods to cease operations at the factory in Moreton, after more than 60 years production at the site.

(2)  Council welcomes the meetings held, at the Leader’s request, with managers from Burton’s Foods before Christmas when the Supply Chain Review was revealed, and the meetings held since with union representatives.

(3)  Council also welcomes the action by the Members of Parliament for Wallasey and Birkenhead to raise this issue in the House of Commons.

(4)  Council urges the company to reconsider this proposal and to take into account:

(a)  The commitment, skills and flexibility of the employees, over many years, through periods of economic recession and recovery

(b)  Investment by the taxpayer, not least by Wirral Borough Council, to secure jobs and improve the site’s viability

(c)  The current economic climate and the impact possible closure will have on families dependent on the company for their income

(5)  Council also restates its policy that the Burton’s Foods site, along with the site used by Typhoo Tea and Manor Bakeries is for industrial and manufacturing purposes and not residential development.

(6)  Council instructs the interim Chief Executive and interim Director of Corporate Services to continue discussions with Burton’s Foods for the duration of their consultation and to offer support to the company, as available, to maintain operations at the Moreton site.

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

Proposed by Councillor Ann McArdle

Seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes

At the end of paragraph 3 delete full stop and insert:

“including the action from the Wallasey MP Angela Eagle in securing an adjournment debate on the closure in the House of Commons and the support from Birkenhead MP Frank Field during that debate.”

At end of the motion insert new paragraphs:

(7)  Council recognises that this factory has only been saved in the past when the workforce and their representatives, the national Government, North West Regional Development Agency, the Council and the local MP have worked together to ensure that the future of manufacturing on the site can be safeguarded. Council pledges to continue with this approach.

(8)  Council further welcomes the launch by the Moreton workforce of a petition to save the factory and urges all Wirral residents to show their support by signing it.

(9)  Council also calls on the national Government in general and the Business Department in particular to ensure that it engages with the campaign to save biscuit manufacturing on the Moreton site and to that end ensure that, as a minimum, it makes available resources to match any which the Scottish Executive may make available to the company to facilitate its plans to move some of these jobs from Moreton to Scotland.

The amendment was accepted as a friendly amendment by the mover of the motion without a vote.

The motion as amended was put to the vote and carried (63:0)

Resolved (63:0) –

(1)  Council regrets the proposal by Burton’s Foods to cease operations at the factory in Moreton, after more than 60 years production at the site.

(2)  Council welcomes the meetings held, at the Leader’s request, with managers from Burton’s Foods before Christmas when the Supply Chain Review was revealed, and the meetings held since with union representatives.

(3)  Council also welcomes the action by the Members of Parliament for Wallasey and Birkenhead to raise this issue in the House of Commons including the action from the Wallasey MP Angela Eagle in securing an adjournment debate on the closure in the House of Commons and the support from Birkenhead MP Frank Field during that debate.”

(4)  Council urges the company to reconsider this proposal and to take into account:

(a)  The commitment, skills and flexibility of the employees, over many years, through periods of economic recession and recovery

(b)  Investment by the taxpayer, not least by Wirral Borough Council, to secure jobs and improve the site’s viability

(c)  The current economic climate and the impact possible closure will have on families dependent on the company for their income

(5)  Council also restates its policy that the Burton’s Foods site, along with the site used by Typhoo Tea and Manor Bakeries is for industrial and manufacturing purposes and not residential development.

(6)  Council instructs the interim Chief Executive and interim Director of Corporate Services to continue discussions with Burton’s Foods for the duration of their consultation and to offer support to the company, as available, to maintain operations at the Moreton site.

(7)  Council recognises that this factory has only been saved in the past when the workforce and their representatives, the national Government, North West Regional Development Agency, the Council and the local MP have worked together to ensure that the future of manufacturing on the site can be safeguarded. Council pledges to continue with this approach.

(8)  Council further welcomes the launch by the Moreton workforce of a petition to save the factory and urges all Wirral residents to show their support by signing it.

(9)  Council also calls on the national Government in general and the Business Department in particular to ensure that it engages with the campaign to save biscuit manufacturing on the Moreton site and to that end ensure that, as a minimum, it makes available resources to match any which the Scottish Executive may make available to the company to facilitate its plans to move some of these jobs from Moreton to Scotland.