Proposed by Councillor Steve Foulkes

Seconded by Councillor Phil Davies

(1)  This Council recognises the seriousness of the criticisms contained within the Supplementary Report on Corporate Governance.

(2)  Council further recognises that these criticisms relate to a culture which is insular and inward looking and which has failed to realise the level of its failings, either through denial of the truth, or though a lack of understanding of best practice elsewhere in Corporate Governance and Wirral’s shortcomings in relation to that best practice.

(3)  Council believes that this culture has grown up over a long period of time, covering many different political administrations, and the responsibility for a failure to change it lies jointly with all of us – with politicians of all parties, with Senior Officers and with our own staff.

(4)  Council also believes that the ability to change this culture transcends political differences and that it is essential that everyone works together to revitalise the Council’s Corporate Governance Arrangements to ensure that Wirral has the opportunity to become the excellent council we know it can be.

(5)  Council also believes that it is the hard work and good will of many of its staff that has allowed good services to be delivered in many cases for the people of Wirral even where the structures and processes have been less than adequate, and believes that this hard work and goodwill will carry us forward to a much better position when the appropriate rigorous measures have been carried out and a sturdy framework created to underpin any future service delivery.

(6)  Council therefore welcomes this Corporate Governance Report as a necessary Wake Up call to us all, and agrees to implement its recommendations in full.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Steve Foulkes

Seconded by Councillor Phil Davies

After final paragraph add:

In order to facilitate a new political culture which allows for consensus on key issues and joint working as appropriate for the common good of Wirral, Council recommends to the Leader of the Council that the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Leaders should be co-opted contributors to the Cabinet Committee on Corporate Governance with the right to speak but not vote.

Council further asks, in line with the Notice of Motion previously passed by all parties, and in line with pending legislation, that an all party working party comprising two members of each party be set up to seek to achieve consensus on the most appropriate form of democracy within the Council, taking into account the strengths and weaknesses both of the old Committee system and the current Cabinet system, and of any legislation and subsequent regulations as these become known.

Council asks that any new system meeting all party approval be prepared ready for adoption at the Council’s AGM, in May 2012 or as soon thereafter that the enactment of the Localism Bill and any subsequent regulations allow.

Council recognises that this is a separate issue from the need to strengthen Corporate Governance in the Council, but believes that a successful outcome would, none the less, contribute to a less antagonistic and more co-operative form of politics, building on the individual strengths of each member.

Council further agrees, again in the light of a move towards more consensus, to increase the size of the Employment and Appointments Committee by one to nine places (4:4:1) and decrease the size of the Planning Committee by one to 11 (4:5:2) on the understanding that the current Chairs of the Employment and Appointments Committee and Planning Committee will remain in post, and that any moves by the current administration to set a budget requiring agreement or implementation through the Employment and Appointments Committee will not be unreasonably obstructed. This decision to take effect from 1 November 2011.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

Delete all after paragraph (1) and insert:

(2)  Council believes that we all have a part to play in mending our ‘Broken Council’. Members, Staff and Officers all have a vital part to play and we acknowledge the wonderful work undertaken by many of our much valued and loyal members of staff.

(3)  In order to begin to mend our ‘Broken Council’ Council resolves:

(a)  To take all necessary steps to establish and convene an all party Council Advisory Committee of 11 members (4:5:2) to oversee and guide the long term process of refreshing and renewing the Council’s governance arrangements. The terms of reference for this Advisory Committee to be initially determined by the Director of Law

(b)  That with effect from the 1 November 2011 that the size of the Employment and Appointments Committee be increased by one to nine places (4:4:1) and decrease the size of the Planning Committee by one to 11 (4:5:2)

(c)  To adopt an inclusive approach to decision making, taking account of different points of view from across the Council and seeking all party engagement through an all party Cabinet/Executive Board.

(d)  To take immediate action, working with all political groups, to develop a committee system and supporting scheme of delegation to be completed by December 2011 and submitted to Council for adoption as soon as practicable.

(e)  To take immediate action, working with all political groups, to reconfigure the existing Scrutiny arrangements to allow a shadow committee system to be implemented to advise the Leader and, using current strong leader powers of delegation to facilitate this as necessary, to be in place and in use by January 2012 at the latest with reference to extraordinary meetings of the council, if required, prior to implementation.

(f)  To review and, where necessary, remove or amend current officer delegations given by the Leader of the Council (including those relating to the Strategic Change Programme) to ensure transparency, effective democratic oversight and good governance.

An amendment submitted by Councillor Harney in accordance with Standing Order 7(2) was withdrawn

Following a debate and Councillor Foulkes having replied, the amendment proposed by Councillor Green was put and lost (26:37) (One abstention). The amendment proposed by Councillor Foulkes was put and carried (37:26) (One abstention).

The substantive motion, as amended, was put and carried (37:26) (One abstention).

Resolved (37:26) (One abstention) Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, E Boult, Mrs SL Clarke, W Clements, T Cox, DM Elderton, GJ Ellis, J Green, J Hale, P Hayes, AC Hodson, M Hornby, PSC Johnson, P Kearney, J Keeley, I Lewis, D McCubbin, Mrs C Povall, Mrs L Rennie, SL Rowlands, A Sykes, S Taylor, GCJ Watt, S Williams and Mrs K Wood voting against –

(1)  This Council recognises the seriousness of the criticisms contained within the Supplementary Report on Corporate Governance.

(2)  Council further recognises that these criticisms relate to a culture which is insular and inward looking and which has failed to realise the level of its failings, either through denial of the truth, or though a lack of understanding of best practice elsewhere in Corporate Governance and Wirral’s shortcomings in relation to that best practice.

(3)  Council believes that this culture has grown up over a long period of time, covering many different political administrations, and the responsibility for a failure to change it lies jointly with all of us – with politicians of all parties, with Senior Officers and with our own staff.

(4)  Council also believes that the ability to change this culture transcends political differences and that it is essential that everyone works together to revitalise the Council’s Corporate Governance Arrangements to ensure that Wirral has the opportunity to become the excellent council we know it can be.

(5)  Council also believes that it is the hard work and good will of many of its staff that has allowed good services to be delivered in many cases for the people of Wirral even where the structures and processes have been less than adequate, and believes that this hard work and goodwill will carry us forward to a much better position when the appropriate rigorous measures have been carried out and a sturdy framework created to underpin any future service delivery.

(6)  Council therefore welcomes this Corporate Governance Report as a necessary Wake Up call to us all, and agrees to implement its recommendations in full.

In order to facilitate a new political culture which allows for consensus on key issues and joint working as appropriate for the common good of Wirral, Council recommends to the Leader of the Council that the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Leaders should be co-opted contributors to the Cabinet Committee on Corporate Governance with the right to speak but not vote.

Council further asks, in line with the Notice of Motion previously passed by all parties, and in line with pending legislation, that an all party working party comprising two members of each party be set up to seek to achieve consensus on the most appropriate form of democracy within the Council, taking into account the strengths and weaknesses both of the old Committee system and the current Cabinet system, and of any legislation and subsequent regulations as these become known.

Council asks that any new system meeting all party approval be prepared ready for adoption at the Council’s AGM, in May 2012 or as soon thereafter that the enactment of the Localism Bill and any subsequent regulations allow.

Council recognises that this is a separate issue from the need to strengthen Corporate Governance in the Council, but believes that a successful outcome would, none the less, contribute to a less antagonistic and more co-operative form of politics, building on the individual strengths of each member.

Council further agrees, again in the light of a move towards more consensus, to increase the size of the Employment and Appointments Committee by one to nine places (4:4:1) (name to be submitted to the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management) and decrease the size of the Planning Committee by one to 11 (4:5:2) on the understanding that the current Chairs of the Employment and Appointments Committee and Planning Committee will remain in post, and that any moves by the current administration to set a budget requiring agreement or implementation through the Employment and Appointments Committee will not be unreasonably obstructed. This decision to take effect from 1 November 2011.